vs Manchester City

Premier League · Sat, 21 Nov 2015 · Away

4-1W

Fixture analysisAI match brief5 evidence clips

Liverpool won 4-1 at the Etihad while ceding the ball: 41% possession turned into 14 shots, 9 on target and 3.2 xG against City's 0.9. The high press and the ruthlessness in transition are the repeatable strengths; the 11 corners conceded are the one thing to review.

Each priority is linked to real local footage, the related playbook principle, and a clear downstream coaching outcome.

Territory & team shape

Calibrated pitch metrics

Where each team controlled space and how compact they stayed, measured on the calibrated 105×68 m pitch. Occupancy is sampled per position, so it holds up despite tracking fragmentation.

Liverpool

Width

30.4 m

Depth

18.7 m

Compactness

17.5 m

Along the pitch

defensive 38%middle 42%attacking 20%

Across the pitch

left 34%middle 33%right 33%

812 frames measured

Manchester City

Width

34.9 m

Depth

20.3 m

Compactness

19.4 m

Along the pitch

defensive 17%middle 40%attacking 43%

Across the pitch

left 31%middle 32%right 37%

806 frames measured

Prioritized findings

Positive executionHigh

High press turned turnovers into shots

14 shots | 9 on target | 3.2 xG

With only 41% possession Liverpool still produced more shots than City (14 to 12) and three times as many on target (9 to 3). The press recovered the ball high enough that City's rest-defence was not set.

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Chance creation issueHigh

Six high-value chances to City's one

6 high-value chances | 1 conceded

Chance quality, not volume, decided this. Liverpool created six openings worth 0.20 xG or more; City created one. That is the 3.2 to 0.9 xG gap in a single number.

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Positive executionHigh

The block held while City kept the ball

0.9 xG conceded | 2 saves

City's 59% possession produced 3 shots on target and 0.9 xG. Mignolet made 2 saves. Ceding the ball was a choice that worked, not a loss of control.

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Potential breakdownMedium

Eleven corners conceded is the review point

11 corners conceded | 3 yellow cards

The deep block invited restarts: City took 11 corners to Liverpool's 5, and Liverpool committed 13 fouls to City's 11 and collected all 3 yellow cards. On another night that volume of restarts is where a lead slips.

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