Premier League Progress For Rodgers & Liverpool

Sunday 23rd September, a supercharged day at Anfield as Manchester United defeated Liverpool 2-1. A day that will be remembered for a long time, the occasion, the week that went before where the truth about Hillsborough finally after 23 years. On the pitch Liverpool slumped to their 3rd defeat in the first five games of the League season , Brendan Rodgers reign as the newly installed Liverpool began auspiciously. Come the end of that Sunday Liverpool resided 3rd from bottom, 2 points, scored 4 and conceded 10.

The jokes started rolling around, we all remember the photo-shop of John Lennon Airport with above us only sky and below us only QPR and Reading.

4 months and 11 days after only 4 defeats in 20 games and 34 points later Brendan Rodgers Liverpool marked improvement from that Sunday to now (despite some hiccups in the League and FA Cups) is not always clear cut. There is a saying "there's lies damn lies and statistics" used to bolster weak arguments according to Wikipedia. In the context of Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool's progress it would be detrimental to not use basic elements of the game which can show the fine margins between success and failure.

Software based statistics like Opta provide the basis on which the progress Rodgers is making, quite interesting comparing to Liverpool of last season in the Premier League. As you will see below the results from Opta speaks for themselves, but the one thing which Opta cannot legislate for is individual mistakes and debatable decisions. If you want further evidence of how the League would actually look like had decisions been made correctly I would advise to have a look at http://www.debatabledecisions.com/

For illustrative purposes, the below statistics are based on Opta's Liverpool performance from last season and in the 25 games this season.

Most clearly for me is the marked improvement attacking wise, already only 3 goals behind our whole total last season. But most importantly is our chance conversion rate. Almost a 4% rise in that alone is massive, with the addition of Sturridge and Coutinho, aligned to the form of Suarez and Steven Gerrard. The potential for Liverpool in the attacking third is to ever increase that conversion rate and if they do so who knows where it will take the side. As well as scoring goals, 63% of them have been assisted in 25 games thus far. A massive jump from last season and shows how tactically Rodgers has made subtitle changes to the style of play that has impacted clearly very well.

Liverpool last season after 17 games had achieved 30 points, by seasons end 22 points from 63 available killed our season in the League despite the great success in the Cup that Dalglish did achieve. People can view the above for what they wish but the marked improvement of this Liverpool side was never more apparent this week just gone. Yes, disappointingly Liverpool did relinquish leads at the Emirates and Etihad but like on occasions this season individual mistakes have cost vital points. The reaction to the defeat at Oldham shows the character in this side, the next 3 League games will be a test of where this season Liverpool can finish. Two home games against Swansea and West Brom, with an away trip to Wigan to boot before Spurs arrive at Anfield in early March.

Until then as fans we can be satisfied but hungry for more, so are Rodgers and the players.