Liverpool vs Manchester Metropolis: Jurgen Klopp’s facet host reigning champions at Anfield dwell on Sky Sports activities this Sunday

Liverpool host Manchester Metropolis at Anfield dwell on Sky Sports activities this Sunday – however how do the groups’ present kinds and type evaluate forward of the blockbuster conflict?

England’s high two golf equipment in latest instances claimed the highest rungs of the desk going into the weekend, whereas latest title-tussle clashes between the league giants have usually been supercharged showdowns.

So as to add even higher gravitas, the fixture has additionally delivered extra objectives than some other match-up between final season’s high 4 groups within the Premier League since Pep Guardiola joined Manchester Metropolis in 2016.

The desk beneath lists earlier conferences in all competitions since 2016/17 and highlights Metropolis’s latest dominance – with a 4-1 win in February final season and a 4-0 win in July final 12 months. Liverpool edged a 4-3 thriller in January 2018 however Metropolis ran riot with a 5-0 masterclass in September 2017.

What is the fashion?

Liverpool usually overload the proper flank with Trent Alexander-Arnold – who has been dominated out this weekend with harm – pushing excessive, the right-sided midfielder edging wider and Mohamed Salah stationed furthest upfield.

Manchester Metropolis have additionally began all six leagues video games up to now in a 4-3-3 system however have a higher attacking impetus down the left flank.

Assaults analysed

Along with main the desk going into the weekend, the 2 groups additionally rank high throughout a raft of metrics. Surprisingly, Metropolis’s main weak spot this time period has been changing probabilities – a problem which, if sustained, will add weight to the argument they want a standard No 9 following their unsuccessful summer season pursuit of Harry Kane.

Pep Guardiola’s facet ranked fourth within the Premier League with 12 objectives going into matchday seven, whereas their upcoming hosts led the best way with 15 scored. Anticipated objectives knowledge emphasises Metropolis’s blunt edge in entrance of purpose up to now, which is compounded by far fewer makes an attempt hitting the goal.

Liverpool pose a substantial risk from dead-ball conditions with a league-topping six objectives from set-pieces – whereas solely Newcastle have scored extra headed objectives than both facet this time period.

Because the interactive graph above reveals, each groups paved the way for firing makes an attempt at purpose. The shot maps beneath recommend Liverpool usually hearth from a barely extra centralised area – steadily hitting the goal from this space contained in the field and Salah’s right-hand zone.

As was the case final season, Metropolis’s objectives have primarily been scored from a cluster of photographs taken in and across the six-yard field from customary runners and cut-backs, however the graphic beneath additionally highlights a dearth of correct photographs.

When it comes to favoured attacking channels, the visualisation beneath reinforces the kinds revealed within the common positions, underlining how Liverpool carry their biggest risk down the proper flank, whereas Metropolis match that hazard down the left channel – which poses an interesting conundrum for the managers when the channels conflict head-on this Sunday.

Regardless of the lopsided risks down the flanks, Liverpool’s assists have come from each flanks and central areas in nearly equal measure, whereas Metropolis have truly had the best pleasure down the proper – which suggests clear-cut alternatives have gone begging from probabilities conjured from the left.

Liverpool trio Salah (5 objectives), Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane (each three) high the purpose chart for the groups mixed. In the meantime, anticipated purpose knowledge within the interactive chart beneath highlights how Ferran Torres, Raheem Sterling and Grealish have been most culpable for lacking Metropolis’s alternatives.

Each side will look to stifle the opposition’s key creators: Salah poses the best risk with Alexander-Arnold out of rivalry for Liverpool, whereas Grealish tees up team-mates most steadily for Metropolis – creating 16 and 18 probabilities, respectively.

Who presses hardest?

Each managers demand urgent to utilise their high-line kinds and defend the counter-attack. Apparently, superior metrics recommend each groups nonetheless possess defensive traces that common at round 44m from their very own purpose, however Manchester United have usurped each golf equipment this time period.

Liverpool usually paved the way for top turnovers however have been displaced by Burnley this season. Regardless, the Reds are marginally extra aggressive than Metropolis within the attacking and center thirds and can look to disrupt the guests’ customary passing development from deep by overturning possession.

The graphic beneath reveals how each groups collect free balls way more steadily down their respective favoured attacking channels: Liverpool’s proper and Metropolis’s left. This means an efficient tactic on Sunday could possibly be to progress from deep on the other channel, earlier than switching flanks with diagonals to reveal rampaging full-backs.

Alexander-Arnold has swept up extra free balls than some other participant from both workforce, whereas Rodri nearly matches the full-back’s returns in that regard for Metropolis. Grealish ranks high for seizing turnovers within the closing third, whereas Cancelo is handiest at participating and successful 50/50 duels.

Move-masters conflict

So this would possibly come as no shock: Metropolis and Liverpool high the charts for passes accomplished and possession once more this season. However, breaking this down additional, we are able to see Metropolis file way more undisrupted passing sequences of their usually slower build-up fashion.

Additional evaluation reveals Metropolis look like closing the hole with Jurgen Klopp’s facet for firing in crosses this season – with each side nearly evenly matched for passes into the field from extensive channels.

The passing networks beneath present much more perception on the typical positions and flank-attack visualisations above and reveal Liverpool’s triangular combos down the proper, with Fabinho usually seeking to offload to that flank.

In the meantime, like Liverpool, Metropolis defend their excessive line with net-shaped combos, that are additionally strikingly just like their upcoming hosts however seem marginally extra symmetrical – regardless of the focus of exchanges occurring down the left.

Ruben Dias and Cancelo register essentially the most passes, with the previous steadily controlling possession from deep, with Liverpool’s centre-backs additionally producing team-topping numbers.

The Reds will undoubtedly miss Alexander-Arnold, who’s by far the best risk for firing passes into the opposition field – whereas Ilkay Gundogan and Cancelo paved the way for Metropolis.

Smooth spots?

Metropolis go into this weekend’s blockbuster conflict with only one purpose conceded from six league video games – a staggering achievement. On paper, Liverpool’s defence ranks third with 4 objectives shipped – having leaked three of these in the course of the 3-3 thriller with Brentford final week.

The graphic beneath reveals all defensive actions carried out by every workforce’s again 4 this season and signifies Metropolis’s rearguard steadily press larger upfield than Liverpool’s again line – to stop counters and assist the defensive midfielder.

Klopp recognised how Brentford discovered a glitch within the Reds’ system final week by overloading Liverpool’s proper flank to take advantage of defensive weaknesses born from their attacking thrust down that channel – whereas additionally prompting defenders to shuffle from zonal territories.

Certainly, the visualisation beneath reveals Liverpool’s opponents have focused this channel, with practically half of all assaults coming down this third of the pitch. Unsurprisingly, Metropolis’s opponents have deployed precisely the identical method to take advantage of their superior left channel.

When it comes to finding the sources of hazard and any potential mushy spots for each groups, the maps beneath plot each move resulting in a shot conceded.

Liverpool are likely to cede crosses down their proper flank and from deep of their left-of-centre midfield space – with conceded objectives all coming from photographs taken across the six-yard field. In the meantime, Metropolis have confronted a league-low 36 photographs – practically half as many because the Reds – however seem extra penetrable from central passes lofted into their field.

The laborious yards

Each groups have develop into synonymous with bodily exertions beneath their present managers however have dropped off this time period. Arguably, their excessive traces allow a extra compressed space to work in and subsequently much less floor to cowl. Metropolis ranked 14th for distance lined going into the weekend – which is notably low in comparison with earlier seasons.

When it comes to the gamers, Sadio Mane has lined extra distance than some other participant between the perimeters, however a number of Metropolis gamers observe, with Ilkay Gudogan, Joao Cancelo and Ruben Dias all registering in extra of 48km from the six video games up to now, whereas Mane and Salah paved the way for sprints.

Who’s purple scorching?

The chart beneath makes use of the Sky Sports Power Rankings to rank gamers’ type, primarily based on 35 matchday metrics, and incrementally awards a better proportion of factors for more moderen video games.

Salah is the present type participant and topped the goalscoring chart with 5 objectives earlier than the weekend – degree with Michail Antonio and Jamie Vardy, however Metropolis full-back Cancelo is clipping at his heels and stopper Ederson is using excessive together with his league-topping 5 clear sheets.

Now it is your flip…

Use the interactive graphics beneath to discover workforce and participant statistics within the Premier League this season…