Following Liverpool’s thrilling 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Sunday, we have picked out some of the best statistics from the game.
The Reds put the supporters through the ringer once again on Sunday, as they went back to the Premier League‘s summit in dramatic fashion.
Roberto Firmino‘s header was cancelled out by Lucas Moura’s strike with 20 minutes remaining, before Toby Alderweireld’s last-minute own goal.
It felt like another huge moment in Liverpool’s season, as they continue to crank up the pressure on Man City, who are two points behind with a game in hand.
Here are the best stats from the match.
Full-Backs on Fire
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Roberton have been key figures for Liverpool all season, with the pair even rated as the highest-valued full-backs in world football back in November.
Their brilliance was on show yet again at Anfield, as they provided width and quality all afternoon, playing key roles in both goals.
Robertson’s inch-perfect cross allowed Firmino to head home the opener, while Alexander-Arnold teed up Mohamed Salah in the lead-up to Alderweireld’s own goal.
They now have 15 assists between them in the Premier League this season—Alexander-Arnold has six, Robertson has nine—which is a fantastic effort.
Only Ryan Fraser (10) and Eden Hazard (11) have more assists than Robertson.
Their little competition with one another seems to be spurring them on and benefiting the team.
‘Fortress Anfield’ Continues
When Jurgen Klopp became Liverpool manager in 2015 he made a point of saying he wanted to make Anfield a fortress again, after years of that often not being the case.
The German has achieved that emphatically as time has gone on, with Sunday’s victory meaning the Reds are now unbeaten at home in the Premier League for 37 matches.
The last time they lost was against Crystal Palace in April 2017.
It has seen them draw level with Man City‘s record set between 2010 and 2012, making it the joint-second longest unbeaten home run in the league’s history.
Chelsea‘s astonishing run of 86 games without defeat, between 2004 and 2008, may never be beaten.
Staggering Points Tally
Whoever ends up failing to win the title out of Liverpool and City has every right to feel hard done by.
The level of consistency that both have found in 2018/19 has been remarkable and they would have waltzed to glory in many other seasons.
That is summed up by the fact that Liverpool are on course for the second-highest points tally in Premier League history (97) if they win every remaining game—City got 100 points last season—yet destiny is still out of their hands.
It simply doesn’t feel fair.
Liverpool have also already equalled the tally (79) that won them the title the last time they tasted success in 1989/90, which is another staggering statistic.
Late Goal Kings
Nothing beats a last-minute winner, both in terms of the joy it brings as a supporter and the kick in the gut it gives to rival fans.
Alderweireld’s comical own goal will have been met with anger from anyone of a City persuasion and it summed up Liverpool’s fighting spirit.
This is nothing new, however, with the Reds now scoring 33 goals in the 90th minute or later in the Premier League—eight more than any other team.
Come May, how important could that goal be?
400 up for Klopp
Going into the game, Liverpool had scored 398 times during Klopp’s brilliant tenure, with the hope that 400 could be brought up at Anfield.
Firmino’s header was a typically slick effort, Robertson’s beautiful cross and the Brazilian’s perfect finish, making it 399 in total.
Not many would have envisaged the milestone then being achieved in such ugly fashion, but they all count, with the late winner absolutely priceless.
The 400 goals have been scored in 197 matches, at an average of 2.03 goals per game, summing up the attacking class on show since Klopp took charge.
And One More for Fun…
It’s April Fools’ Day, which means people make up erroneous stories about Liverpool that cause meltdowns among supporters.
While people are busy thinking up various lies, Opta have released the following (fake) stat highlighting Liverpool’s misfortune down the years:
13 – Liverpool have conceded the highest number of unlucky goals in Premier League history. Fortune. pic.twitter.com/P3vxewPiE2
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 1 April 2019
Call it bias, but that sounds about right to us!
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