The Y axis is LFC\u2019s 10-game rolling average xG generated directly from pressing. The x axis is what confused me. Each game listed actually represents the beginning\/end of a 5-game period. That\u2019s why the data is not very smooth (at least compared to what it would look like if we were seeing a 10-game average and every match was a point on the graph). \u00a0The chart covers the whole of the Klopp Era. The huge spike at the end of the graph represents our season thus far. As you can see, our pressing xG is through the roof, compared with any other time in the Klopp Era.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other stats, most notably xG differential, paint a similar picture. This team is one of Klopp\u2019s best, and it has probably been the best team in Europe this season (which means, the best in the world). Statistically, only Bayern, Man City, and Ajax really compare. Chelsea is sorta close, but not in the same ballpark with the others. I don\u2019t have the pressing data for those other clubs, but I would be very surprised if their xG from pressing comes anywhere close to Liverpool\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s why that has me worried: we\u2019re playing with so much intensity that it feels inevitable that players will suffer injuries. Now, to some extent, this has already occurred. Firmino, Milner, \u00a0 Gomez, and Ke\u00efta have all suffered muscular injuries. And, wouldn\u2019t you know, all of those guys are now back in training and are likely to be part of the squad tomorrow. So, maybe \u2026 silly me? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, realistically, we will continue to carry several injuries at any given time. We can only hope that, unlike last season\u2019s debacle, those injuries don\u2019t waylay anyone for the remainder of the season. We\u2019ve had one horrible injury already this season. That\u2019s enough. \u00a0We also need to hope that the injuries remain li<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, Jota and Divock have apparently been nursing minor \u201cknocks\u201d picked up against Wolves.\u00a0
Meanwhile, the show we\u2019re watching is unbelievable. LFC have pushed it to another level. City and Chelsea can cope with us, but everyone else needs to get lucky.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tomorrow, I expect us to return to the first-choice team that\u2019s started the last two PL matches, if Jota is available:
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gerrard\u2019s crew will fight hard. They will create problems for us. They will probably score. But I just don\u2019t see them beating this version of the Mighty Reds. \u00a0We are rolling.
LFC 4 – Villa 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roll on, Relentless Reds.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Return of a Legend. Steven Gerrard is the best Scouse player ever to play for our Scouse club. He joined the Liverpool academy at age 9, and played at Liverpool nearly all of his career (he closed it out with two quiet seasons in MLS for the LA Galaxy). With LFC he won numerous accolades and trophies, including multiple …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"WB4WB4WP_MODE":"","WB4WP_PAGE_SCRIPTS":"","WB4WP_PAGE_STYLES":"","WB4WP_PAGE_FONTS":"","WB4WP_PAGE_HEADER":"","WB4WP_PAGE_FOOTER":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[39,17,14,18,23],"class_list":["post-184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-match-previews","tag-aston-villa","tag-lfc","tag-liverpool-fc","tag-liverpool-football-club","tag-premier-league","entry entry-center"],"yoast_head":"\n