The mind-blowing stat that proves Liverpool star has helped turn Anfield into a fortress

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Following Manchester City’s record-breaking campaign last season, not many would have bet against Pep Guardiola’s side running away with the title again… except Jurgen Klopp of course.

Liverpool had matched City punch for punch before Guardiola’s men blinked first in their 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday, ending their unbeaten streak in the process.

A 4-0 away win against Bournemouth saw the Reds’ unbeaten run continue, propelling them to the top of the table.

Now the only unbeaten team left in England’s top-flight, here are 12 incredible stats behind an incredible run.

1. Simply the best

Even before the 4-0 win against Bournemouth, Liverpool had enjoyed the best start to a top-flight season in their 126-year history.

12 wins, 3 draws, 0 defeats and 39 points after 15 games were enough to break the record. Their record after 16 games is only bettered by three teams: Tottenham Hotspur (46 points 1961/62), Chelsea (43 points in 2005/06) and Man City (46 points in 2017/18).

2. Anfield is fortress

There’s no place like home for the Reds, but it’s a hostile environment for everyone else who visits of late. Teams rarely get a good look at Liverpool’s goal, that’s why a lot of folks were surprised when Callum Paterson succeeded in finding the net for Cardiff back in October.

Paterson’s goal was the first Liverpool had let in at Anfield since February, ending a run of 918 minutes without conceding. 16 games into the current season, he remains the only opposition player to ripple the Anfield net in a Premier League fixture.

3. One more for a record

Liverpool’s table-topping form is built on a foundation set last season. Despite losing to Chelsea in the penultimate game of the 2017/18 campaign, a 4-0 win against Brighton extends the Red’s current unbeaten run to 17 league games.

Should Jurgen Klopp’s side avoid defeat against Manchester United, Liverpool will set a new club record of 18 top-flight league games without defeat.

4. Setting the pace

Liverpool won their opening six competitive matches of the season for the first time since 1961-62. Alright, the Reds were playing in the second tier of the Football League when they achieved this feat, but it could be an indicator for what’s to come this season, or it could just be pure happenstance, we’ll let you decide.

5. Mo keeps motoring on

Last season’s Golden Boot winner has recaptured his sensational form and currently shares the Premier League’s top-scorer spot with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – both on 10 so far.

With his hat-trick against Bournemouth on December 8, the Egyptian talisman took his Premier League goal tally for the Reds to 42, overtakingRoberto Firmino (40) and Philippe Coutinho (41) to become the club’s ninth top scorer in the competition.

In fact, Daniel Sturridge (50) is the only current Liverpool player with more Premier League goals for the club.

6. Derby delight

Liverpool fans have walked away from the Merseyside derbies smug, either with all the bragging rights or nothing more than a disappointed shrug in every meeting for the last 10 years.

The tribal passions of when Liverpool meet Everton means that spectators should always expect the unexpected. That’s why emerging from these clashes victorious, or at the very least unscathed, will prove to be very important for Liverpool’s future title hopes.

The Reds have already come out on top in their first meeting of the season, scoring late in the 90th minute to take all the points at Anfield. It’s the fifth time Liverpool have scored 90th minute winners against their local rivals in the Premier League, a competition high.

7. The cleanest of sheets

Liverpool have notched 10 clean sheets so far this season. Alisson, who has conceded just six goals from 42 shots on target faced, certainly deserves praise for this impressive achievement.

However, the players positioned in front of him have also played a huge part in creating the most formidable defence in the league, and…

8. The most formidable defence in Europe

The Reds’ backline has conceded fewer goals (6) than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues.

Liverpool’s defence has been spearheaded by the unflappable stalwart Virgil Van Dijk, who has been unplayable at the back since arriving in January. In fact, Liverpool have kept as many clean sheets (16) as they have conceded goals in his 30 Premier League games for the club.

Perhaps what you would expect from the world’s most expensive centre-back, who arrived at Anfield from Southampton for £70m, but he is starting to look cheap.

9. Alisson the Unbeaten

The final stat that celebrates just how brilliant the Liverpool defence has been, and the team in general, is Alisson’s breaking of a club record.

The Brazilian is the first Liverpool player to remain unbeaten in his first 16 Premier League games for the club, beating Javier Mascherano’s 15-game streak from 2007.

10. Lethal in the box

Liverpool are so confident going forward that they don’t need to rely on crafting chances from set-pieces or from speculative pot shots from range.

That’s not to say that Klopp’s men aren’t capable of scoring the odd screamer or two, it just that the Reds prefer to create carnage inside their opponent’s box. Out of the 34 goals they’ve scored over 16 Premier League games, 31 of them have been scored inside the penalty area.

Man City are the only side to have more touches in the opposition box, shots on target from inside the box and more big chances.

11. They’ll hit you back

The best form of defence is a good offence… unless you’re playing Liverpool. The Reds will not be moved, beaten back or bullied. If you hit them, they’ll likely hit you back with twice the ferocity.

When the Reds aren’t controlling possession, they have a knack for exposing teams on the break. No team has had more fast breaks leading to a shot than Klopp’s (15) in the Premier League this season, five of which have resulted in a goal, which again cannot be beaten.

12. Fair play

As well as being, a pass-making, shot-stopping, counter-attacking, goal-scoring juggernaut, the Reds have turned out to be gentle giants this campaign.

The Reds have earned the second fewest number of bookings in the league with 17 and only one of their players have seen red thus far.

The post 12 incredible stats behind Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the season appeared first on Squawka News.



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