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With Liverpool on the brink of an historic title, we took a deep dive into their transformation under Klopp both on and off the pitch ft.com/content/4640e9…

Chart thread follows:
1) Liverpool’s progression has been remarkable. Here they are compared to all clubs in Europe’s big leagues over 20+ years.

Since Klopp’s arrival in 15-16, they’ve gone from middle of the pack to elite.
2) This season they’ve been especially efficient, eschewing blowout victories and instead shutting down matches after taking a narrow lead.

Liverpool have 13 more points this season than a team with their goal difference would typically achieve.
3) We can break the Klopp revolution into two distinct phases:
• First, creating a lethal attack. Over his first three seasons, Klopp added almost one goal per game to Liverpool’s attacking output.
• Then over the last two seasons it was all about defensive solidity.
4) More things to note here
• Benitez’s Liverpool is remembered as being defensively solid. Klopp’s side are just as tight at the back, but with much greater firepower
• Klopp’s front line don’t match Suarez-led attack of ‘13-14, but Rodgers’ side was far too defensively porous
5) Getting into more detail, one of the most notable changes under Klopp has been his tactical changes:
• Central midfield now more for control, less for creation
• Fullbacks stepping up as creators, now contributing to more goalscoring opportunities than the midfield
6) Indeed, Liverpool’s attacking build-up now favours rapid breaks down the flanks, cutting out the middlemen:

91% of chance creation comes thru fullbacks and the front three. This is a higher % than any other team in the major European leagues has recorded in at least 5 years.
7) And it’s not just rapid open-play moves — Liverpool have also made huge strides in how they deal with set-pieces, both in attack and defence:
• League’s second highest scoring rate from set-pieces
• One of league’s lowest conceding rates
• Man City markedly worse on both
8) Lastly, Liverpool’s excellence in the transfer market.

Here are fees paid & minutes played by new signings since Klopp came in.

Liverpool’s spending clusters to the right: players who slotted straight into the team & stayed there. Many more transfer "misses" for other sides.
9) The result: Liverpool pay much less per minute played than other big-spenders.

They may have spent big on Alisson, Van Dijk etc, but every penny has been paid back on the pitch.

City and United have left a lot of their big spending on the bench or off the squad list.
End of thread.

Fully story here: ft.com/content/4640e9…
(fear not, Covid analysis will resume tomorrow)
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