Liverpool Without Jurgen Klopp: Still Pretty Good!

I wrote about Liverpool, who A) are no longer coached by Jurgen Klopp, B) have conceded two goals in seven games, and C) have played one of the easiest schedules in the Premier League:

Last season, Liverpool's average shot distance from goal was 17.2 yards -- the sixth highest in the league. This season, it's down to 15.7 -- the fifth lowest in the league. This isn't just random; these are the same players as last season. Perhaps to avoid more opponent transitions or to conserve energy or likely both, Liverpool aren't wasting possessions with unlikely, long-range attempts on goal. They're hunting out high quality opportunities and almost never shooting from outside the box.

Liverpool have created five "great" chances (0.33 or more xG) with the game tied, five more when they've been up a goal, and none once they've gone up by two goals or more. Given that it is theoretically easiest to create high-quality chances when you have a multi-goal lead and your opponent finally has to push bodies forward an attack, I can't look at this information and see it as anything other than a tactical choice.

The same trend holds true on the other end, too: they've conceded four chances worth 0.33 xG or more this season -- three of them came with a three-goal lead, and one more came when they were up one. In fact, they've conceded more xG with a three-goal lead than in any other game state.

Happy playoff baseball to all you sickos out there.