Statistics have revealed the Premier League’s top clubs for pressing intensity & defensive line heights for the new 2022/23 Premier League season with Liverpool behind their rivals on both measurements.
With Liverpool enduring a tough start to the new season, both of those team traits on Liverpool’s end have been highly criticised by pundits and fans this season and they’ve been analysed and compared to the other teams in the league.
Given that Jurgen Klopp’s style of play requires a high level of intensity, they are always one of the fiercest pressing teams on any statistical list – but they have dropped off this season.
The report reveals that Liverpool are behind their rivals Manchester City but also newcomers Arsenal, who top the table at this early stage. Considering Liverpool had been outrun and outsprinted in the first eight games of their season, its no surprise to see them below their rivals here.
A thoroughly deserved winner. Liverpool miles better than they’ve been in some time. Pressing, creativity, intensity. As key as Thiago is, Jota was also instrumental. Matip superb and so key to the build up. Tsimikas phenomenal. Diaz never, ever stopped running. A big win.
— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) September 13, 2022
What do the stats say?
According to the stats from MarkStats.club, Liverpool’s highline is now the fourth highest in the league behind Brighton, Manchester City and Arsenal. Whilst their pressing intensity (calculated by passes allowed per defensive action) sees them third highest behind Chelsea and Leeds.
Given their injury issues, which has seen them lose Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate, Thiago and Jordan Henderson for large parts of the new season, there’s been a clear drop-off in the quality of their pressing and highline – which can’t be stipulated from the statistics shown.
Following the miserable 4-1 defeat to Napoli, it was claimed by the Athletic that Liverpool’s lack of pressing is exposing Klopp’s high line – and it was evident to see how James Milner, Harvey Elliott and Fabinho struggled in a make-shift midfield three.
Their high line has been exposed in almost every game and to great extent by Napoli; Klopp described the issue following the loss (Liverpoolfc.com): “The high line is a risk if you don’t get pressure on the ball and use it. If you have a high line and you don’t put any pressure on the guy on the ball then, yes, then it’s a risk.
Stats at https://t.co/dUh5MC3R20 updated for all leagues. Below is an example of what you can do with the data. Highest defensive line 'so far' belongs to Man City and Arsenal, lowest – Man United and Everton. Highest press intensity (PPDA) – Leeds, Chelsea, Liverpool pic.twitter.com/lNFJvjNafL
— markstats (@markrstats) September 19, 2022
“But that’s usually not the case, the problem is not the high line, we need a high line to be compact, the problem is we were never close enough to put the opponent under pressure.”
Their drop-off in intensity in midfield has directly affected the regularity of teams getting in behind their high line. However, the re-emergence of Thiago following his injury suffered in the first game of the season was highly positive.
According to WhoScored, Thiago won all 6 of his tackles in his 27-minute substitute appearance vs Napoli (in what was his comeback game) He won as many tackles as Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho and Milner combined and showed his worth to this side.
Furthermore, he followed that up with another great performance – this time from the start against Ajax. The Spaniard earned a man of the match award as Liverpool edged out Ajax 2-1 and with players continuing to return, it will only help the Reds to improve and re-discover their old form.
