Liverpool Breaks All-Time xG Record in Dominant Win Over Newcastle
Liverpool started the New Year with a commanding 4-2 victory over Newcastle, showcasing a suffocating display that should have resulted in even more goals. Despite a goalless first half, Liverpool emerged as deserving winners, with Mohamed Salah scoring twice and Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo also finding the back of the net.
However, what is truly remarkable is Liverpool’s record-breaking expected goals (xG) tally of 7.27, the highest in a Premier League game since records began in 2010/11. Based on xG alone, the final scoreline should have been 7-1. This impressive performance was fueled by Liverpool’s 34 shots on goal, with 18 of them occurring in the first half alone, making it the highest number of shots by any team in the current Premier League campaign.
Despite their dominance, Liverpool wasted several clear-cut chances. Darwin Nunez, in particular, missed three significant opportunities, with an xG value totaling 2.69. Additionally, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s missed rebound from Salah’s saved penalty had an xG rating of 0.46.
This victory against Newcastle marked Liverpool’s joint-highest number of shots on goal this season, matching their tally from the goalless draw against Manchester United. In their last five games, Liverpool has recorded an average of 25.8 shots on goal per game, a significant increase compared to their average of 16.1 in the previous 24 games.
According to FBref, Liverpool’s previous highest xG tally for the season was 3.3 in the 4-0 win over LASK, while their biggest underperformance was failing to score from 2.3 xG against Manchester United. However, these records were shattered against Newcastle, as Liverpool underperformed by 3.27 xG.
Liverpool’s dominant display against Newcastle highlights their attacking prowess and ability to create numerous scoring opportunities. With their xG record-breaking performance, Liverpool continues to establish themselves as a formidable force in the Premier League.