- The Dutchman’s possession-oriented side has had less possession than Jurgen Klopp’s side
- Enzo Maresca has counter-attacked more aggressively than expected
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No one expected Liverpool and Chelsea to start so well. Arne Slot fills the heavy metal platform boots of Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino is replaced by a coach in Enzo Maresca with no Premier League experience and a squad of thousands to sift through.
And yet their starts have exceeded both expectations and results from last season. What’s even more fascinating is how they did it.
Slot’s teams are said to be the possession kings, but so far his Liverpool side have had less than last season under Jurgen Klopp. Also fewer completed passes. . . and more fast breaks on the ball.
The same goes for Chelsea. Even when Maresca won the championship with Leicester, their fans found the slow-passing football annoying at the best of times.
Pochettino was the aggressive counter-attacker. Not according to the numbers…
No one expected Liverpool to start so well. Arne Slot fills Jurgen Klopp’s heavy metal platform boots
The same goes for Chelsea. Even when Maresca won the championship with Leicester, their fans found the slow-passing football annoying at the best of times
Enzo’s unstoppable attack meets Arne’s unwavering defense
16 – only Man City (17) scored more goals than Chelsea (16) in the first seven games, while only Spurs had a higher xG (15) than the Blues (14.7).
2 – … yet no team has conceded fewer goals (2), kept more clean sheets (5) and conceded a lower xG than Liverpool. Something has to give
No one has made more tackles and interceptions in the first seven games than Moises Caicedo
The real £115 million man?
Moises Caicedo could have been in the other dressing room. Liverpool agreed a £111 million deal for the midfielder last year, only for Chelsea to snap him up for £115 million. But now they see the best of him.
No one made more tackles or interceptions in the first seven games, or anywhere on the pitch. Caicedo provides the protection Chelsea’s defense needs and they will need it against his former suitors on Sunday.