Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will be absolutely vital to Liverpool's FC's hopes of winning the Premiership this season. We all know how well the two players work together, but just how effective is the Gerrard/Torres partnership?
I have analysed every LEAGUE game Gerrard and Torres have started together since the Spaniard joined the club in 2007. I think you'll agree that the results are quite intriguing.
Season 2008-2009
Gerrard + Torres starting together (t=Torres g=Gerrard a=Assist)
Aug 16, 2008 - Sunderland - W, 0 - 1 (t1)
Aug 23, 2008 - Middlesbrough - W, 2 - 1 (g1)
Sep 20, 2008 - Stoke City - D, 0 - 0
Sep 27, 2008 - Everton - W, 0 - 2 (t2)
Oct 5, 2008 - Manchester City - W, 2 - 3 (t2 g1a)
Jan 19, 2009 - Everton - D, 1 - 1 (g1)
Jan 28, 2009 - Wigan Athletic - D, 1 - 1
Feb 1, 2009 - Chelsea - W, 2 - 0 (t2)
Mar 14, 2009 - Manchester United - W, 1 - 4 (t1 – g1)
Mar 22, 2009 - Aston Villa - W, 5 - 0 (g3)
Apr 4, 2009 - Fulham - W, 0 - 1
May 9, 2009 - West Ham United - W, 0 - 3 (g2 – t1a)
May 17, 2009 - West Brom - W, 0-2 (g1 - g1a)
May 24, 2009 - Spurs - W, 3-1 (t1 - g1a)
TOTALS
P14 W11 D3 F30 A7
Torres: 10 goals + 2 assist
Gerrard: 9 goals + 3 assists
Total: 19 goals + 5 assists
ANALYSIS
* G+T: 24 goals scored/created in 14 games started together
* G+T: Average of 1.7 goals scored/created per game
* Unbeaten in all 14 games together
* 80% of games won with G + T starting together
SEASON 2007 - 2008
Gerrard + Torres starting together
Aug 11, 2007 - Aston Villa W, 1 - 2 (g1)
Aug 19, 2007 - Chelsea D, 1 -1 (t1)
Sep 29, 2007 - Wigan Athletic W, 0 - 1
Oct 7, 2007 - Tottenham Hotspur D, 2 - 2 (t1)
Oct 28, 2007 - Arsenal D, 1 - 1 (g1)
Nov 24, 2007 - Newcastle United W, 0 - 3 (g1)
Dec 2, 2007 - Bolton Wanderers W, 4 - 0 (g1 t1)
Dec 8, 2007 - Reading L, 3 - 1 (g1)
Dec 16, 2007 - Manchester United L, 0 - 1
Dec 22, 2007 - Portsmouth W, 4 - 1 (t2)
Dec 26, 2007 - Derby County W, 1 - 2 (g1 t1)
Dec 30, 2007 - Manchester City D, 0 - 0
Jan 2, 2008 - Wigan Athletic D, 1 - 1
Jan 21, 2008 - Aston Villa D, 2 - 2
Jan 12, 2008 - Middlesbrough D, 1 - 1 (t1)
Jan 30, 2008 - West Ham United L, 1 - 0
Feb 2, 2008 - Sunderland W, 3 - 0 (t1 – g1)
Feb 23, 2008 - Middlesbrough W, 3 - 2 (t3)
Mar 2, 2008 - Bolton Wanderers W, 1 - 3
Mar 5, 2008- West Ham United W, 4 - 0 (g1 t3)
Mar 8, 2008 - Newcastle United W, 3 - 0 (t1 g1)
Mar 15, 2008 - Reading W, 2 - 1 (t1)
Mar 23, 2008 - Manchester United L, 3 - 0
Mar 30, 2008 - Everton W, 1 - 0 (t1)
Apr 13, 2008 - Blackburn Rovers W, 3 - 1 (g1 – t1)
May 4, 2008 - Manchester City W, 1 - 0 (t1)
May 11, 2008 - Tottenham Hotspur W, 0 - 2 (t1)
TOTALS
P27 W16 D7 L4 F50 A21
Torres: 20 goals + 2 assist
Gerrard: 10 goals + 10 assists
Total: 30 goals + 12 assists
ANALYSIS
* G+T: 41 goals scored/created in 27 games started together
* G+T: Average of 1.4 goals scored/created per game
* Unbeaten in 85% of games started together
* 60% of games won with G + T starting together
* 13 league games drawn in 2007-2008: T + G started 7 of those
* Failed to win 40% of games with T + G starting together
GRAND TOTALS (Last 2 seasons combined)
P41 W27 D10 L4 F80 A28
Torres: 30 goals + 4 assists
Gerrard: 19 goals + 13 assists
Total: 49 goals + 17 assists
ANALYSIS
* G+T: 66 goals scored/created in 41 games started together
* G+T: Average of 1.7 goals scored/created per game
* Unbeaten in 93% of games started together
* 66% of games won with G + T starting together
* 24 league games drawn from 2007-2009: T + G started 10 of those
* Failed to win 36% of games with T + G starting together
Clearly, the Gerrard/Torres partnership is vital to Liverpool’s success in the league! However, I do not think it is completely accurate to say that if they had played more games together last season then Liverpool would have won the league.
last season alone, Gerrard and Torres played in the league draws against Stoke City, Everton and Wigan; in 2007-08, they played together in 7 of Liverpool’s 13 league draws.
If the partnership is so potent, why does the team still draw so many games with both players in the starting line up?
Based on last season’s draw stats, it’s conceivable that Gerrard and Torres wouldn’t have made that much difference in the other 8 draws during the campaign.
Of course, it works both ways – they could have had a massive difference, but I’m just making the point that having them both in the starting line up more regularly doesn’t necessarily mean Liverpool draw fewer games.
One thing is for sure: with Gerrard and Torres in the same team you are practically guaranteed goals and a very high probability of not losing the game.
So - to answer the question posed in the title: is the Gerrard-Torres partnership really that effective? The answer is a resounding yes! And then some.
There is still arguably room for improvement though, which can only be a good thing for Liverpool.
* How effective are Liverpool without Steven Gerrard? Find out here: Debunking Liverpool FC myths - no 2: Liverpool struggle without Steven Gerrard
I have analysed every LEAGUE game Gerrard and Torres have started together since the Spaniard joined the club in 2007. I think you'll agree that the results are quite intriguing.
Season 2008-2009
Gerrard + Torres starting together (t=Torres g=Gerrard a=Assist)
Aug 16, 2008 - Sunderland - W, 0 - 1 (t1)
Aug 23, 2008 - Middlesbrough - W, 2 - 1 (g1)
Sep 20, 2008 - Stoke City - D, 0 - 0
Sep 27, 2008 - Everton - W, 0 - 2 (t2)
Oct 5, 2008 - Manchester City - W, 2 - 3 (t2 g1a)
Jan 19, 2009 - Everton - D, 1 - 1 (g1)
Jan 28, 2009 - Wigan Athletic - D, 1 - 1
Feb 1, 2009 - Chelsea - W, 2 - 0 (t2)
Mar 14, 2009 - Manchester United - W, 1 - 4 (t1 – g1)
Mar 22, 2009 - Aston Villa - W, 5 - 0 (g3)
Apr 4, 2009 - Fulham - W, 0 - 1
May 9, 2009 - West Ham United - W, 0 - 3 (g2 – t1a)
May 17, 2009 - West Brom - W, 0-2 (g1 - g1a)
May 24, 2009 - Spurs - W, 3-1 (t1 - g1a)
TOTALS
P14 W11 D3 F30 A7
Torres: 10 goals + 2 assist
Gerrard: 9 goals + 3 assists
Total: 19 goals + 5 assists
ANALYSIS
* G+T: 24 goals scored/created in 14 games started together
* G+T: Average of 1.7 goals scored/created per game
* Unbeaten in all 14 games together
* 80% of games won with G + T starting together
SEASON 2007 - 2008
Gerrard + Torres starting together
Aug 11, 2007 - Aston Villa W, 1 - 2 (g1)
Aug 19, 2007 - Chelsea D, 1 -1 (t1)
Sep 29, 2007 - Wigan Athletic W, 0 - 1
Oct 7, 2007 - Tottenham Hotspur D, 2 - 2 (t1)
Oct 28, 2007 - Arsenal D, 1 - 1 (g1)
Nov 24, 2007 - Newcastle United W, 0 - 3 (g1)
Dec 2, 2007 - Bolton Wanderers W, 4 - 0 (g1 t1)
Dec 8, 2007 - Reading L, 3 - 1 (g1)
Dec 16, 2007 - Manchester United L, 0 - 1
Dec 22, 2007 - Portsmouth W, 4 - 1 (t2)
Dec 26, 2007 - Derby County W, 1 - 2 (g1 t1)
Dec 30, 2007 - Manchester City D, 0 - 0
Jan 2, 2008 - Wigan Athletic D, 1 - 1
Jan 21, 2008 - Aston Villa D, 2 - 2
Jan 12, 2008 - Middlesbrough D, 1 - 1 (t1)
Jan 30, 2008 - West Ham United L, 1 - 0
Feb 2, 2008 - Sunderland W, 3 - 0 (t1 – g1)
Feb 23, 2008 - Middlesbrough W, 3 - 2 (t3)
Mar 2, 2008 - Bolton Wanderers W, 1 - 3
Mar 5, 2008- West Ham United W, 4 - 0 (g1 t3)
Mar 8, 2008 - Newcastle United W, 3 - 0 (t1 g1)
Mar 15, 2008 - Reading W, 2 - 1 (t1)
Mar 23, 2008 - Manchester United L, 3 - 0
Mar 30, 2008 - Everton W, 1 - 0 (t1)
Apr 13, 2008 - Blackburn Rovers W, 3 - 1 (g1 – t1)
May 4, 2008 - Manchester City W, 1 - 0 (t1)
May 11, 2008 - Tottenham Hotspur W, 0 - 2 (t1)
TOTALS
P27 W16 D7 L4 F50 A21
Torres: 20 goals + 2 assist
Gerrard: 10 goals + 10 assists
Total: 30 goals + 12 assists
ANALYSIS
* G+T: 41 goals scored/created in 27 games started together
* G+T: Average of 1.4 goals scored/created per game
* Unbeaten in 85% of games started together
* 60% of games won with G + T starting together
* 13 league games drawn in 2007-2008: T + G started 7 of those
* Failed to win 40% of games with T + G starting together
GRAND TOTALS (Last 2 seasons combined)
P41 W27 D10 L4 F80 A28
Torres: 30 goals + 4 assists
Gerrard: 19 goals + 13 assists
Total: 49 goals + 17 assists
ANALYSIS
* G+T: 66 goals scored/created in 41 games started together
* G+T: Average of 1.7 goals scored/created per game
* Unbeaten in 93% of games started together
* 66% of games won with G + T starting together
* 24 league games drawn from 2007-2009: T + G started 10 of those
* Failed to win 36% of games with T + G starting together
Clearly, the Gerrard/Torres partnership is vital to Liverpool’s success in the league! However, I do not think it is completely accurate to say that if they had played more games together last season then Liverpool would have won the league.
last season alone, Gerrard and Torres played in the league draws against Stoke City, Everton and Wigan; in 2007-08, they played together in 7 of Liverpool’s 13 league draws.
If the partnership is so potent, why does the team still draw so many games with both players in the starting line up?
Based on last season’s draw stats, it’s conceivable that Gerrard and Torres wouldn’t have made that much difference in the other 8 draws during the campaign.
Of course, it works both ways – they could have had a massive difference, but I’m just making the point that having them both in the starting line up more regularly doesn’t necessarily mean Liverpool draw fewer games.
One thing is for sure: with Gerrard and Torres in the same team you are practically guaranteed goals and a very high probability of not losing the game.
So - to answer the question posed in the title: is the Gerrard-Torres partnership really that effective? The answer is a resounding yes! And then some.
There is still arguably room for improvement though, which can only be a good thing for Liverpool.
*Source for statistics: LFC History + Soccernet
* How effective are Liverpool without Steven Gerrard? Find out here: Debunking Liverpool FC myths - no 2: Liverpool struggle without Steven Gerrard
