As Liverpool fans, we perhaps took for granted just how brilliant Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher were at the heart of our defence.
Their performances were absolutely key to our run to the Champions League final in 2005 and the fact we’ve conceded 50 Premier League goals per season the past three seasons (on course to do it again this term), proves how much we’ve missed centre-backs of such calibre.
But this stat suggests it’s not just their ability at the back we miss, but their (Hyypia’s, in this case) ability to stay healthy, too.
In his ten seasons at the club, he averaged 46.4 games per season. That’s the equivalent of playing every single Premier League fixture and eight cup matches a year, for ten consecutive campaigns.
To put that into perspective, Joel Matip has played 19 times for this this term, and if he plays the next 11, he’ll be on 30. Dejan Lovren’s played 23, meaning he can finish on 34 in total.
Our defenders need to improve, but just as importantly, they need to stay fit – as our legendary Finn clearly did throughout his tenure.