The average EPL team misses about 0.570 goals per each game due to poor open crossing. This seems as a shocking result as we would see a dramatic increase of scoring if the teams reduced their open crossing. At the same time, this is quite realistic as keeping the 73 otherwise lost possessions would create additional goal opportunities. Thus if all the teams in the EPL stopped playing an open cross, we would see on average additional 433 goals per season!

I use the 4-2-4.

So, what should we make, analytically, of Liverpool's ability to thoroughly dominate games and run up crazy scores? Are the fourth goal and the tenth shot on target equally useful data about their quality as the first and second - like how in baseball the great teams are the ones who win the close games, but the ones who win the not-close games? Or is there a significant issue of diminishing returns / beating up on the weaklings and not performing commensurately well against the top of the league?

So, what should we make, analytically, of Liverpool's ability to thoroughly dominate games and run up crazy scores? Are the fourth goal and the tenth shot on target equally useful data about their quality as the first and second - like how in baseball the great teams are the ones who win the close games, but the ones who win the not-close games? Or is there a significant issue of diminishing returns / beating up on the weaklings and not performing commensurately well against the top of the league?

This was a bit anathema to Liverpool's typical performance in which they thoroughly dominate statistically but fail to translate that dominance on the scoreboard.

On the typical thing, though, Liverpool have stopped underperforming expected goals over the last two months, and they've actually been beating the metrics by such margins that they're back to even for the season. This week was a continuation of that.

Not that either of you were going for full-fledged breakdowns, but that analysis strikes me as a bit lazy. Liverpool were ahead within three minutes, up two within twenty minutes. Score effects matter, as does the fact that Liverpool were the away side -- the expectation from essentially the second goal on was that Wigan were going to dominate possession with LFC content to sit back and hit on the counter. Wigan's shots were, for the most part, half-chance headers, and I'd argue the best three scoring chances fell to Liverpool -- Downing's opener, Suarez's first and third. I don't know if 4-0 was the 'proper' result, but I don't know how you could watch that game and think 2-1 was fair(*).

Huh, by the underlying stats Liverpool didn't dominate the game. I only saw part of the first half, in which Liverpool looked clearly superior, and so I figured based on that, the final score, and various comments online that Liverpool had been obviously dominant, but the numbers are very even.

Arab group preparing a 1.5 billion pound takeover of Arsenal.

If this is real (and it's been reported by multiple UK papers), I expect Kroenke to take the money and get out.

I'm no tactics expert but playing a high line against Spurs seems...questionable.

Cazorla is at least in the conversation, but after that, there is nothing.

The high line didn't help but both Spurs goals were because the runners weren't tracked. I'm looking squarely at Vermaelen. He let one Spur go by him (Adebayor?) and let Mertesacker have him but he didn't track the other (Bale). On the second - maybe Monreal should have tracked Lennon but Vermaelan seemed oblivious to him.

I'm no tactics expert but playing a high line against Spurs seems...questionable.

The problem is if they play deep they are relying upon Arteta and Ramsey to control the midfield against which is dubious. Chances are they'd get carved up and the Spurs would dominate possession. Playing high, they at least had a chance to press and generate some chances on the other end.

I have no problem with a high line given Arsenal's personnel.

Is it just the way the game is going, or does it seem to anyone else like there are very few legitimately great defenders out there. It seems like centerback is a big hole for even a lot of the best teams around the world, and the best fullbacks generally treat defense as an afterthought.

I'm just hoping that Dembele and Adebayor are ok.

I'm non-vaguely terrified about Dembele because I was sure he'd torn up his knee when I saw the replay.

The speed of Walcott and Defoe would work a lot better up top than the less dynamic Adebayor and Giroud, in a matchup of high lines.