For Liverpool, as we all know, long range goals can be important. Although they scored more goals from inside the penalty area than Manchester City in 2021/22, the Citizens scored more effectively from outside the area. Most recently, the Reds beat Fulham 4-3 with four long-range goals, before Harvey Elliott’s 23-yard strike secured two more points against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Of course, those goals stay in the back of your mind, but it’s important not to lose sight of the potential downsides of your long-term commitment.Liverpool have blocked 107 shots in the Premier League this season, with Arsenal just one behind and the only team to have blocked more than 100 shots. More than half of the goals were scored from 18 yards, with most attempts missed due to poor decision-making. It’s not just the players who are to blame. Fans like to shout “Shoot” when one of their teams has the ball near the edge of the penalty area. Even though this may seem like the best option.
Dominic Szoboszlai is level with Premier League leader Bruno Fernandes for shots from outside the penalty area with 31, which helps explain why only Bukayo Saka (20) and Marcus Rashford (18) have had more shots blocked. Hungary (16). ). But things are not looking bad for the Reds. Just 12.5% of the expected goals they have created this season have been blocked, the second lowest percentage in the top flight. This is encouraging not only for the 2023/2024 season, but also for the wider history of the club. Liverpool have blocked more shots this season than in the last nine campaigns, according to Understat, with a high of 21.2 in 2015/16 and an average of 15.4% over the past decade. . The Reds’ blocked shots average also dropped. The expected goals ratio has been consistently 0.07 in each of the last six seasons, but has dropped to 0.05 this season. It may seem small, but in many ways it is huge.
This means that most of the activities that were blocked were low-value activities rather than high-quality opportunities. Of the 107 field goal attempts blocked by opponents this season, only once have they had an xG over 0.14 and just 13 times over 0.10. Chelsea’s best chance came in the season opener, heading in Luis Diaz from a corner. If you remember, the shot could have easily resulted in a penalty kick as the ball hit Nicholas Jackson’s hand.
The reason for these various changes in blocked shots statistics rests largely on the feet of one man: Darwin Nunes. His finishing will most likely be criticised, but this is one area where he has shown significant improvement.
