In a season of much struggle for Liverpool, two of their best results have come against Spanish opposition.
Their Champions League campaign began with a pulsating 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid in which Virgil van Dijk netted the decisive goal in stoppage time, and the Reds also put Real Madrid to the sword at Anfield in November at a time when Arne Slot’s side had been in a worrying tailspin.
Football fans often like to compare the strengths of various domestic leagues, and while many would regard the Premier League as Europe’s strongest right now, LaLiga would generally be regarded as either second or third (along with Serie A).
Looking at Spanish La Liga statistics from this season, how do Liverpool compare to teams from Spain’s top flight. We’ve crunched the numbers and deduced some compelling findings.
Attacking statistics
Goals: Liverpool’s tally of 35 goals in the current Premier League campaign would put them fifth if transferred across to LaLiga, albeit with the caveat that the Reds have played two more top-flight matches than their Spanish counterparts (three more in the case of Villarreal and Levante).
Shots: Slot’s team have recorded 354 shots in the league this season, a total surpassed only by LaLiga’s big two of Barcelona (413) and Real Madrid (408). Real Betis are the next highest on 316.
Shots on target: A few LaLiga sides have been more efficient than Liverpool, whose tally of 99 shots on target would put them sixth in the Spanish league. Atletico Madrid (118), Real Betis (106) and Real Sociedad (104) have all worked opposition goalkeepers more often despite having fewer shots in total.
Accurate crosses: Liverpool’s lack of threat from the wide positions is one of many issues to have afflicted Slot’s side this term, with just 59 accurate crosses delivered in the Premier League. Only two LaLiga teams have had fewer – Girona (55) and Celta Vigo (53).
Defensive statistics
Clearances: Liverpool rank highly for this metric, with 614 across the Premier League season so far. In LaLiga, only Real Betis (630) have had more than the Reds.
Tackles: Conversely, Slot’s side have recorded just 290 tackles in their top-flight campaign, fewer than every single team in LaLiga, where Real Mallorca bring up the rear with 303. At the other extreme are Real Sociedad with 399.
Discipline
Fouls committed: Even whilst allowing for differences in how the two divisions are officiated, Liverpool’s foul count of 219 in the Premier League is higher than only two sides from LaLiga. Unsurprisingly, those are Real Madrid (211) and Barcelona (196).
Free kicks: Slot’s team have been awarded 232 free kicks in their current league campaign, which’d put them 14th if transferred to the Spanish top flight. Levante and Osasuna are the closest with 231 each, with Getafe being awarded the most (301) and Atletico Madrid the fewest (197).
Yellow cards: Just three teams in the Champions League have received fewer bookings than Liverpool, and it’s a similar story when comparing to LaLiga. The Reds have had 38 top-flight yellow cards – in Spain, only Atletico (36), Real Madrid (35) and Barcelona (30) have had fewer.
Red cards: Liverpool haven’t had a player sent off in the current Premier League campaign, something that no LaLiga side can claim about their own seasons. Celta Vigo, Real Betis and Levante have had just the one red card each, in contrast to the eight dished out to Real Oviedo.