Liverpool’s journey to Manchester Metropolis is without doubt one of the Premier League’s defining fixtures of the early season and, based on the information, we’ll have to defy the numbers to win.
Opta prediction favours Metropolis however Salah may make historical past
Opta’s supercomputer ran 10,000 pre-match simulations and made Manchester Metropolis the favourites, giving Pep Guardiola’s facet a forty five.4% likelihood of victory in comparison with 27.7% for Liverpool and 26.9% for a draw.
It’s one other reminder of how effective the margins are between the league’s prime sides, with each groups separated by a single level – Metropolis on 19, Liverpool on 18.
The information additionally highlights the person battles that might outline Sunday’s conflict.
Erling Haaland wants simply two targets to succeed in 100 Premier League strikes, whereas Mo Salah is one aim or help away from surpassing Wayne Rooney’s file for many aim involvements at a single membership.
No participant has extra aim contributions in opposition to Metropolis than Salah, who has immediately been concerned in 15 targets (9 scored, six assisted) versus Guardiola’s facet – a statistic that underlines his significance as soon as once more.
That attacking menace shall be boosted by the doable return of Alexander Isak, with our boss confirming in his pre-match replace that the Swede is again in full coaching and will characteristic after three weeks out.
Though our No.9 may very well be again within the squad, the supervisor warned supporters to not anticipate him to be “at his finest instantly”.
Liverpool’s current kind factors to Anfield-style efficiency
The 1–0 win over Actual Madrid in midweek proved we are able to nonetheless dominate Europe’s elite.
Opta’s post-match knowledge confirmed we generated 2.58 anticipated targets to Madrid’s 0.45, the sort of management that shall be wanted once more if we’re to get something from the Etihad.
There’s additionally renewed confidence in defence, with Virgil van Dijk marshalling a again line that restricted Madrid to only eight pictures.
Andy Robertson’s resurgence, as famous by Slot forward of going through Metropolis, offers us elevated stability down the left.
If there’s one space that might tilt issues, it’s creativity.
Florian Wirtz has quietly change into one in all our key playmakers, creating 5 possibilities in a single half in opposition to Madrid, probably the most by any Liverpool participant in a single half since January.
So, whereas the numbers might favour Metropolis, we’ve seen this earlier than – it’s a daring transfer to put in writing us off.
And with Salah chasing historical past, Isak returning, and Slot’s males rediscovering rhythm, the one stat that can matter this weekend is the scoreline at full-time.
You’ll be able to view Slot’s feedback on Robertson and Wirtz through Empire of the Kop on YouTube:
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