It was another Premier League game and another win for the Reds after eventually overcoming an aggressive Newcastle on Saturday night. But there are more ‘anothers’ as our defenders made further goal contributions on the night.
Virgil van Dijk – inexplicably unmarked in the Magpies’ box – opened the scoring from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner, before the young Scouser provided his 11th league assist for Mo Salah’s second.
Watch more: (Video) – Salah sweeps home lovely cushioned finish for 2-1
2% of all Liverpool’s assists in Premier League history have come from Andy Robertson & Trent Alexander-Arnold this season
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) May 4, 2019
As Duncan Alexander has acutely pointed out in the Tweet above, the dazzling full-back duo of Trent and Andy Robertson alone accounts for 2% of the Reds’ total assists tally since 1992!
Trent’s got a goal and with Robbo they’ve both chipped in with 13 total assists, while Van Dijk has netted six times and set up four.
Watch more: (Video) – Van Dijk nods in easy free header for 1-0
Joël Matip has his header against Southampton to put in the mix. Even Dejan Lovren can match that with a Boxing Day goal against Newcastle despite only playing 12 league games this season, which we can add to the 38 in this Tweet.
Trent: 1 goal, 13 assists
Robertson: 13 assists
Virgil: 6 goals, 4 assists
Matip: 1 goalLiverpool’s defence has a combined 38 goal contributions this season. Insane.#LFC
— Rex (@ThatRexGuy) May 4, 2019
Even without contributing at the other end, their defensive exploits on their own are more than worthy of praise conceding just 34 goals in all competitions this season.
Our backline has kept an impressive 24 total clean sheets with Alisson in goal, but they’ve also amassed a ridiculous 39 goal contributions between them!
Together, our main rearguard have been more prolific than our very own Sadio Mané, as well as the likes of Eden Hazard, Jadon Sancho, Antoine Griezmann, Harry Kane, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Leroy Sané.
Interesting perspective: Liverpool have two fullbacks who bomb forwards, both currently on 11 assists, yet they’re at the same time the team who’ve conceded least in Premier League (20). Speaks volumes about the defensive organisation, team balance, but also van Dijk’s impact.
— Maxi (@MaaxiAngelo) May 4, 2019
In fact, over the season Manchester City’s revolving nine-man defensive options have cropped with only nine goals and 18 assists in 57 matches in all competitions. Five of those assists came from Benjamin Mendy early in the season and he’s been out injured for nearly all of it.
Without all of Klopp’s men pulling together and offering something to our attack, City could well have been presented with the Premier League trophy weeks ago.
It will be up to our defenders once again as we go for a vital win against Wolves on the last day of what has been thrilling and nerve-wracking title challenge.