Liverpool or Arsenal: who is better? Analyzing
Grigory Telingater December 22, 2023, 19:00 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
We study the statistics before the main match of the tour.
A surprising situation for the English championship: the first two teams in the Premier League are Arsenal and Liverpool. And it is these two clubs that face each other on Saturday at Anfield. At the same time, the teams have almost equal indicators of goals scored and conceded: 35:15 for Arsenal and 36:15 for Liverpool. Let’s see who is doing better this season based on other indicators.
Liverpool are better in xG, dribbling and save percentage
We start with xG, which has received more and more attention in recent years (here’s an explanation of how this metric works). In terms of expected goals, Liverpool are ahead: 34.4 xG. Arsenal have 31.3. The capital club occupies fifth place in this indicator after Newcastle (34.8), Liverpool (34.4), Chelsea (33.3) and City (32.2).
It is logical that Liverpool are superior to Arsenal when it comes to shots. Klopp’s team scored 310 goals, the best of any Premier League team this season (Arsenal had 263). In terms of shots on goal, Liverpool also has an advantage: 98 accurate shots (Arsenal has 85).
Liverpool has the best percentage of reflected shots on goal: 77.8% saves (Alison played 15 games and Kelleher played 2 rounds). Arsenal have the same figure of just 64.1%. Liverpool also have slightly better dribbles: 333 attempts (140 successful). Arsenal players dribbled 306 times (130 successfully).
Liverpool made 10,667 passes (8,921 accurate), while Arsenal had 10,247 (8,698 accurate) slightly fewer. It is true that the percentage of accurate passes remains in the hands of the Londoners: 84.9% compared to 83.6%.
Liverpool or Arsenal: who is better?
Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Arsenal is better in defense, penalties and cards.
Arsenal allowed fewer chances to be created in front of their goal than anyone else in the Premier League. xGA allowed: 12.7 goals. Liverpool have 20.5 expected goals conceded. It turns out that Klopp’s team creates more moments and Arsenal defends better, but there is no parity. On average per 90 minutes, Arsenal’s difference between chances created and goals allowed is +1.09 xG per game. Liverpool have +0.82 xG in the same 17 rounds.
Nobody has taken more corners in the Premier League this season than Arsenal: 139 (Liverpool: 118). Arsenal is also the best team in the Premier League in terms of touches in the rival area: 609. While Liverpool players touched the ball 541 times in the rival area.
Arsenal are the only team this Premier League season to have scored six goals from penalties (none missed). Liverpool converted three of four. At the same time, Arsenal earned only 24 yellow cards in 17 rounds; every other Premier League club has more. For example, Liverpool has 32 warnings. And no one has received more red cards this season than Klopp’s team. It is true that of four eliminations, one was considered erroneous. Arsenal also commit far fewer fouls: just 162 times, while Liverpool broke the rules 201 times.
Liverpool or Arsenal: who is better?
Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
But in what indicators are Liverpool and Arsenal equal?
Both teams used only 23 players in 17 rounds. Only West Ham (22) used fewer players. The leader in this indicator is Newcastle (30 players), which suffered many injuries. Well, possession of the ball is almost the same: 60.2% for Liverpool and 60.3% for Arsenal. The leader, of course, is City (62.2%).
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