We continue our <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-stats/">FPL stats series</a> by looking at the essential Liverpool FPL <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a> from last season. We&#8217;d recommend reading our article on <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/the-best-liverpool-fpl-players/">the best Liverpool FPL players 2021/22</a> too.
Bought to you by <a href="http://twitter.com/FPLLens">@FPLLens</a>, who holds a USSF B Coaching License, this team-by-team series of Fantasy Premier League tips articles is perhaps the most sophisticated analysis of FPL <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a> on the internet.
For more where this comes from, and to support FPLLens, <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/Lens/73">join the Hub today</a>.
Remember, we&#8217;ve got everything you need to know about FPL 2021/22 right here on the Hub. Check out our <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-ultimate-guide/">FPL Ultimate Guide</a> for <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-team-previews-and-best-players/">team-by-team FPL previews</a>, <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-strategy-and-tips/">FPL strategy articles</a>, the <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/how-to-win-at-fpl-the-complete-guide/">How to Win Guide</a> and loads more.
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-ultimate-guide/">Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Tips 2021/22 | The Ultimate Guide</a></li>
<li><a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-player-comparision-tool/">The FPL Player Comparison Tool</a></li>
<li><a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-stats/">More Team-by-Team Essential FPL Stats</a></li>
</ul>
<h2></h2>
<h2>Essential Liverpool FPL Stats | Attacking Numbers</h2>
When reflecting on Liverpool’s 2020/21 season, I notice that I have a lot of criticism for Liverpool still in my head.
The truth is, while there was much to criticise, they adapted. They could&#8217;ve had an easier time of things with some better finishing and a less injury-stricken defence.
To get more granular, I thought I’d begin with the <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-player-comparision-tool/">Fantasy Football Hub </a><a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-player-comparision-tool/">Comparison Tool</a>.
The radar graph shows us how Liverpool were level with <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/the-best-manchester-city-fpl-players/">Man City</a> in most attacking statistical categories.
The big difference was in defence and in finishing. On reflection, it feels like Liverpool’s finishing last season was atrocious. The expected <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a>, however, tell a different story. Liverpool scored 68 goals last season with an xG of 68.36.
They performed in line with their expected <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a> with an xG Delta of only -0.36 and an xGA (expected goals allowed) Delta of -1.63 over the course of last season.
For Liverpool to challenge for the top spot, they must improve on their finishing. Namely, finishing whilst under pressure. They generated slightly more shots in the box than City last season, but Liverpool only scored 59 goals from inside the box compared to Man City’s 72.
This was the Sadio Mane (£12.0m) efficiency and the Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) indecisiveness we remember from last season.
<div id="attachment_28647" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28647" class="size-full wp-image-28647" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Salah-Mane-2.jpg" alt="Liverpool FPL essential stats" width="1024" height="738" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Salah-Mane-2.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Salah-Mane-2-300x216.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Salah-Mane-2-768x554.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Salah-Mane-2-610x440.jpg 610w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Salah and Mane didn&#8217;t always have cause to celebrate last season.</div>
These factors led to Liverpool players taking away 6.8 xG when getting their shots on target. A reminder that this calculation is made by subtracting xG (68.36) from xGoT (expected goals on target &#8211; 61.56).
Most of Liverpool’s chances are created through the centre of the field (190) compared to the left (125) or the right (140). Diogo Jota (£7.5m) has indeed enjoyed tremendous success in this area, as has Roberto Firmino (£9.0m) in their most recent pre-season friendly. He scored a brace in that game.
Many of these chances in the centre of the field come from an exorbitant number of crosses. Liverpool attempted 862 crosses last season, which is 174 more than the average of 688.
Unfortunately, they could not connect with their crosses. They had the 4th lowest cross completion (19.8%). Liverpool are likely to continue to look for headed opportunities, and the return of Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) could help them improve on their cross percentage.
I see them maintaining or building on their 2nd most headed shots (101) and joint-most headed goals (15) from last season.
Liverpool will have to be more careful in possession as only Fulham and <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/crystal-palace-fantasy-football-tips-team-preview/">Crystal Palace</a> were dispossessed more times.

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<h2></h2>
<h2>Essential Liverpool FPL Stats | Defensive Numbers</h2>
Defensively, Liverpool have a lot of work to do. Even before van Dijk and Joe Gomez (£5.0m) were lost to injury last season, Liverpool were struggling with basic defensive concepts.
The play below begins with a positional catastrophe &#8211; not the only one in that game. Notice how both Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson (£7.0m) are behind the central defenders.
The ball is already in the air and rather than playing a U, the Liverpool defence is playing an N. This is a tactical error, and a basic one at that. These mistakes are fundamental and systemic.
<div id="attachment_37458" style="width: 2565px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-37458" class="wp-image-37458 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds1.png" alt="" width="2555" height="1353" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds1.png 2555w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds1-300x159.png 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds1-1024x542.png 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds1-768x407.png 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds1-1536x813.png 1536w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds1-2048x1085.png 2048w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds1-610x323.png 610w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds1-1080x572.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 2555px) 100vw, 2555px" />Image 1: Liverpool&#8217;s defenders form an inverse-U, making them vulnerable</div>
We remember Leeds’ second goal because of the confusing blunder by Virgil Van Dijk, and rest assured we will get to that. That blunder also comes as a result of bad positioning: this time by Gomez. Note in the image below where Gomez is located, and where Liverpool would love to have a teammate.
<div id="attachment_37459" style="width: 1710px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-37459" class="wp-image-37459 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds-2.png" alt="" width="1700" height="1146" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds-2.png 1700w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds-2-300x202.png 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds-2-1024x690.png 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds-2-768x518.png 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds-2-1536x1035.png 1536w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds-2-610x411.png 610w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds-2-1080x728.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1700px) 100vw, 1700px" />Image 2: Gomez finds himself out of position, leading to a crucial mistake</div>
The third goal begins with an out of position van Dijk. Noticing a pattern? He should be where the check is so that he can recognise runs into the box and meet them.
<div id="attachment_37456" style="width: 2104px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-37456" class="wp-image-37456 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/leeds3-1.png" alt="" width="2094" height="1313" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/leeds3-1.png 2094w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/leeds3-1-300x188.png 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/leeds3-1-1024x642.png 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/leeds3-1-768x482.png 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/leeds3-1-1536x963.png 1536w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/leeds3-1-2048x1284.png 2048w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/leeds3-1-610x382.png 610w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/leeds3-1-400x250.png 400w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/leeds3-1-1080x677.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 2094px) 100vw, 2094px" />Image 3: Virgil van Dijk leaves a gap that Klich gladly exposes</div>
Also of note are Fabinho (£5.5m) and Mateusz Klich (£5.5m). This is the moment where Klich begins to make his run past Jones&#8230;
In Image 4, we see how much ground Klich has covered compared to Fabinho. Fabinho has shut down mentally. Also look at the impact van Dijk being out of position.
<div id="attachment_37457" style="width: 2343px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-37457" class="wp-image-37457 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds3-2.png" alt="Essential Liverpool FPL stats" width="2333" height="1204" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds3-2.png 2333w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds3-2-300x155.png 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds3-2-1024x528.png 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds3-2-768x396.png 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds3-2-1536x793.png 1536w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds3-2-2048x1057.png 2048w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds3-2-610x315.png 610w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Leeds3-2-1080x557.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 2333px) 100vw, 2333px" />Image 4: Klich finds himself with far too much space in the Liverpool box</div>
While these issues keep my expectations for Liverpool defence low, they&#8217;re not as low as a £4.0m price-tag. Konstantinos Tsimikas (£4.0m) presents an opportunity with upside as he has shown with his recent assists in pre-season.
The result of these fundamental issues, compounded by injuries and players playing out of position, saw Liverpool concede the 4th most big chances (81).
Teams that like to attack more from their right side could benefit from the introduction of Tsimikas into a team that conceded 89 more crosses from the left than the right. Much will be asked of him, and this is probably why there will be constant chatter about James Milner (£5.0m) taking over that spot at some point.
Lastly, I thought it important to note that Liverpool conceded the 2nd fewest headed shots last season (66). This could decrease more with the return of their talismanic centre-back.

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Essential Liverpool FPL Stats 2021/22

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