Newman Noggs
Well-Known Member
Most important factor of the international break is our players returning injury/covid free.
Exactly, and our record to date is not auspicious.
Most important factor of the international break is our players returning injury/covid free.
What's the expression? Lies, damned lies and statistics?I worked this out prior to last night's game, but in the PL this season City and Liverpool have missed the exact same number of big chances, had identical goal/shots ratios of 13%, and had identical xg/goals ratio.
So, any suggestion that Liverpool are somehow more clinical, or City are not ruthless enough, just doesn't hold up.
They've scored a few more goals because they've had more shots overall, but then they've also just had a run where they played teams in the bottom half of the table for weeks on end. Looking at the fixtures left, it would be a surprise if we didn't outscore them between now and the end of the season.
And are you watching every minute of Liverpool's game's too?What's the expression? Lies, damned lies and statistics?
Anyone can see with their own eyes that in the main, we are not that clinical and that (Sporting aside) this has been very evident over recent games. I don't really care what the stats say - it's obvious.
I don't agree with you.And are you watching every minute of Liverpool's game's too?
Perhaps you could, with your own eyes, make a note of how many shots both teams have, and whether they score from them. If you're really into trusting your own eyes, why not record the games, slow them down, and then make a note of how difficult you think each chance is that we're missing/scoring and then compare them with Liverpool's chances. Do you think that might work?
Sure, stats can be misused, but what you're almost certainly doing is watching City with your pint half full. Your eyes tell the story you want them to tell - these stats are so similar that arguing one team is more clinical just doesn't hold up.
Yeah, there's a little bit of the old everyone thinking their team is shit at corners because they never seem to go in, whereas every team doesn't score often from corners but no one watches the other teams.And are you watching every minute of Liverpool's game's too?
Perhaps you could, with your own eyes, make a note of how many shots both teams have, and whether they score from them. If you're really into trusting your own eyes, why not record the games, slow them down, and then make a note of how difficult you think each chance is that we're missing/scoring and then compare them with Liverpool's chances. Do you think that might work?
Sure, stats can be misused, but what you're almost certainly doing is watching City with your pint half full. Your eyes tell the story you want them to tell - these stats are so similar that arguing one team is more clinical just doesn't hold up.
And yet Salah has missed more big chances that anyone else in the PL this season, and he's needed more attempts to score a goal than Sterling.Yeah, there's a little bit of the old everyone thinking their team is shit at corners because they never seem to go in, whereas every team doesn't score often from corners but no one watches the other teams.
Liverpool have a slightly better xg and goals for, but a slightly worse xg against and goals against, and their goals aren't as spread out among the team, so Salah is more clinical, but I do wonder if people are really watching Liverpool regularly reading this thread.
Yep. You can tell when a game isn't going well for Liverpool when Salah starts snatching at shots when there are better passes on. In the same way you can tell when a game isn't going well for City when they over pass it even if a shot is on.And yet Salah has missed more big chances that anyone else in the PL this season, and he's needed more attempts to score a goal than Sterling.
He's undoubtedly one of the best players in the world, but, like just about every player on the planet, he misses a LOT more than he scores.
I think you're probably right. However, easier said than done.Win our next two league games and the gap will be 4 points. 4 points with 7 games left is a huge advantage particular with our remaining fixtures and theirs.
Win the next 2 and the league is pretty much won imo