9 Sept 2011

KENNY DALGLISH: First 27 games analysis - Is he still the King...?

Kenny Dalglish has been in charge for 27 games now in his second spell at Anfield. How has the team performed during that time? Are Liverpool actually heading in the right direction, and if so, what specific improvements have been made?

The table below shows all 27 games split into the following:

* All competitions
* Home only (All competitions)
* Away only (All competitions)
* League only (Home)
* League only (Away)

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KEY POINTS

* Anfield is a fortress again. Liverpool is unbeaten in 92% of home games in all competitions.

* It's the same in the league: unbeaten in 91% of home league games

* Overall, the team is unbeaten in 74% of games

* Goal difference of +23 in all competitions, with the team averaging 1.6 goals per game, and an excellent 2.1 goals per game in home league games.

* The defence is also improving, with 12 clean sheets in 27 games, an improvement on the 9 clean sheets in the 27 games prior to Dalglish's arrival.

* In terms of goals conceded, the club is also improving. In the 27 games before Dalglish arrived Liverpool conceded 32 goals in all competitions (an average of 1.1 per game) . Post Dalglish, that average has lowered to 22 goals conceded (or 0.8 goals per game)

* There has also been a 22% increase in goals scored (compared to the 27 games pre-Dalglish)

* Away from home, the rate of games being lost in the league has decreased. In the 27 games pre-Dalglish, the team lost 9 league games. post-Dalglish, the figure is 5 league games lost.

* One of the most dramatic improvements is a 60% increase in goals scored away from home. In the 27 games pre-Dalglish, the team managed a paltry 8 away goals. Post-Dalglish, the team has banged in 20 away goals in 14 games (an average of 1.4 per game).

As you can see, Dalglish and his coaches are doing a fantastic job so far. There is still room for improvement, especially when it comes to the age old problem of away form, but without a shadow of a doubt, Kenny is still the King.

Jaimie Kanwar


24 comments:

  1. good stuff! hope they contenue winning all home matches

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  2. Couldn't  agree more.  Our tempo and style of play has improved so much as well and we look a constant threat going forward.

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  3. The Table doesn't appear....

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  4. These stats can only improve. Now KK has players of his own choice on the field.

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  5. What browser are you using? it works for me in Chrome/Firefox

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  6. The weighting of points earned for a victory means that focusing on the unbeaten % is the wrong thing to do - looking at the % of games won is more important, or best of all just looking at points per game (as I've mentioned elsewhere)

    Assuming that 76 points/2ppg is minimum standards for our club (it should be 82 really, but oh well...) then our performances are still slightly below par tbh, but we should expect that to pick up as the squad continues to improve with the new additions and return of Gerrard into the fold.

    Here's hoping that the season really kicks into gear asap now that the transfer window and internationals are out of the way!

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  7. Last season if we merely turned half the away results we would have come in second.

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  8. Can you do a comparative analyses of Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Spurs to KK's 27 matches?

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  9. Yes... He is still the KING... No doubt! YNWA

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  10. Why the American language?  Have you had a bang on the head?

    Liverpool have, Liverpool are etc, NOT Liverpool is, Liverpool has.

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  11. Also showed what an outdated, one tactic manager Hodgson was for us

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  12. Solid start under king kenny but has only played 5 games with his assembled squad(didn't have much time in jan window) and is unbeaten so long may it continue , 82 points is achievable

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  13. No I must have mis read, you had something positive to say about the club. Must be the occasional article to cover up the fact that your a man u fan!!!!!!!

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  14. Would be interesting to compare with the first 27 games of our previous 4 managers

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  15. Can I just point out that in 17 of those 27 games, Glen Johnson was involved. Of those 17 we won 8, drew 5 and lost 4. That's a 70% unbeaten record. How's that for specific measurable impact? Well done Glen Johnson!

    Again well done to Glen Johnson for improving our defensive record under Kenny and for improving our goals per game stats.

    Apologies for being a little sarcastic JK but I've just done what you did in your earlier analysis of Johnson impact on the team.

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  16. Ha and to think Jaimie you were trying to convince everyone woy was the man for the job.ya made a right fool Of yourself there and a course he is still da king it's Kenny FFS!

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  17. Stats are great. But an even bigger fact is that Liverpool are playing entertaining high tempo football. Under horrid Hodgson Liverpool were boring, uncreative, lost and utterly dismal straight from the first game. I still remember those bad memories. Vs Arsenal the only good thing that came out of that game was Ngog's goal which was due to straight luck rather than Hodgsons tactics. Dalglish has installed his way of the game and its the way to go. Performance wise, the difference stands out in so many ways. These facts support that. Where has Dalglish been all these years. 

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  18. Totally agree. He isn't satisfied with just 1 goal and we strive to build on that. There is a greater fluidity to our play and the balance of the team is much better

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  19. Stats, as said on this very "blog" previously can be used to prove what you want. All thats happened here is someone (who normally is the first to use any stat in a negative sense) has applied a science to what the fans already know. We know this as we're passionate about the club we live for, most of us go week in week out, or at least a few times a season. I don't need stats to show me Roy was out of his depth and playing unacceptable football. I don't need stats to tell me Rafa had it hard under the previous regime. I don't need stats to know we have bought well and shifted water carriers, I don't need stats to show Kenny has transformed the club, I don't need stats to show me Henry & Comoli and Co are a positive force in the club. The reason why, cause I love my club and I watch my club.

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  20. The man will always be King. His greatness lies not in his fabulous talent but the way he held us together post Hillsborough

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  21. Don't worry lad, he's just throwing us off scent...be back to the gloom and unrelenting negativity soon, right JK?

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  22. I was thinking the exact same thing.
    Good read though!

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  23. christ on a bike, heres the man who was pro hicks and gillett, pro hodgson saying something positive............you know what? even if kenny had lost all 27 matches in charge, he would still be king kenny...........well said stephen j

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  24. i love the new Liverpool. i hate to say it but for years now they made me fall asleep every game. i was so bored of our negative style of play our lack of creativity that i thought what other sports are there again.. Kenny has changed all that and i for one am loving it.So move over man united cos this year man city will take the title for you and next year Liverpool. will take it from Manchester. how  do you think that will feel. ynwa     

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