Brighton scored three goals against a poor Liverpool on Saturday, with one stat in particular revealing how easy it was for the Seagulls to create chances at Anfield.
Liverpool found themselves two goals down in 17 minutes, another lackluster start as the Reds have now conceded the first goal in 12 of their last 15 games in all competitions.
But there is another stat that has emerged from the game that is even more revealing.
The visiting team’s three goals came from six shots. The six scored the goal and the six fell as clear chances.
This shows that the chances Liverpool are allowing opposing teams are not just half chances, they are clear openings that could easily result in goals.
Liverpool–Brighton xG Map
exciting and competitive game, draw pretty fair pic.twitter.com/0tr1RBqb7k
— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) October 1, 2022
In truth, Roberto De Zerbi’s side could easily have been more than two goals ahead in the early stages, with Alisson coming to the Reds’ rescue on numerous occasions.
Had it not been for the Brazilian’s impressive form this season, Liverpool would have conceded far more than the nine league goals they have sent in so far, and the ones in front of them simply aren’t up to par.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance is back in the spotlight, and those hoping for a reaction to his omission from the England squad to face Germany were disappointed by yet another poor defensive performance.
Brighton left winger Leandro Trossard, Alexander-Arnold’s direct rival in the afternoon, scored a hat-trick, with the Liverpool right-back missing two of the Belgian’s three goals.
His late equalizer came from a mistake by Virgil van Dijk, the kind of mistake you don’t associate with the Dutchman but which is clear proof that, for some reason, his performance levels aren’t good enough at the moment either.
Statistics show that this is much more than a problem for Liverpool. Having collected just 10 points from his first seven league games, this is his worst start to a Premier League campaign since 2014-15, Brendan Rodgers’ last full season at the club.
The next tests for Liverpool’s poor defense? Arsenal and Man City, the two leading teams in the league table and the two best attacking teams in the division today.
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