Liverpool are soaring at the top of the Premier League but data shows that only TWO new stars from Arne Slot’s side would feature in Jurgen Klopp’s title-winning team of 2019-20 – THE SHARPE END

For those not from the red end of Merseyside, it’s easy to forget quite how dominant the Liverpool side were that won the Premier League title five seasons ago. 

A point shy of a century, won the league by 18 points. We look at this team under Arne Slot and think they have started well, flying high at the top of the table, but it’s nothing compared to the Liverpool of 2019-20.

After 15 games, they had won 14 and drawn one. Seven more points than this time around. And yet this new, different-looking Liverpool are favourites to win the title in Arne Slot’s first season, which would be a staggering achievement.

So, how do they compare? Who edges who? And what makes them different?

ARNE’S IN CONTROL

On first glance, there’s just a slip of paper between them. Almost identical number of shots per game at around 15.5 and similar on target at a smidge more than six. 

It is easy to forget quite how dominant Jurgen Klopp’s side that ended their wait for a title were

A few extra shots faced this term, 10 to eight, but the same Expected Goals (xG) conceded of one, so chances of a very similar quality and both with passing accuracies around 85 per cent.

Yet there are clear differences in styles and not in the ways we might have expected.

Unsurprisingly, Jurgen Klopp’s side pressed higher. The title winners won the ball further up the pitch as heatmaps show.

And yet it did not necessarily work as efficiently as the new bunch. Fewer of those turnovers of possession high up the pitch led to shots and goals than those made by the current bunch. Slot’s side are more controlled. They pick their moments.

Slot’s teams like to keep the ball while Klopp was all direct and heavy metal so it was expected this new Liverpool would be the possession kings. 

Yet it was Klopp’s that enjoyed more possession and played more passes but both had the same number of touches in the box.

This season Liverpool lose possession with 17 per cent of their touches, lower than in any campaign under Klopp.

Again, it looks like Slot is being more efficient in turning their possession into opportunity.

Liverpool ball recoveries: First 15 games of this season (left) v final 15 games of 2019-20 (right)

The Reds are keeping the ball better under Slot than in any of there seasons with Klopp according to the data

SALAH ON ANOTHER LEVEL

The big difference between this season and their title-winning campaign is Mo Salah, his performances, and how much more the Reds rely on him. 

The Egyptian King has 13 league goals and nine assists already. 

After 15 games in 2019-20 he had six and three. He wasn’t even Liverpool’s top scorer. Sadio Mane led the way on nine.

Salah is putting up better numbers for Liverpool than ever before – and Slot is doing much better at getting him into more dangerous, goalscoring positions.

He’s touching the ball in the box as regularly as he did in the title-winning season and having a similar amount of shots but the chances he’s getting now are of better quality and, crucially, he’s far more ruthless in taking them.

Salah is also running less and pressing less than he did in Jurgen Klopp’s heavy metal band. 

That’s much better for the legs of a 32-year-old and for a manager who will need his star player firing all season.

Mohamed Salah has been in imperious form this season and has 13 goals to his name already

Slot is doing much better at getting his star forward into more dangerous, goalscoring positions

SO, WHO MAKES THE COMBINED XI?

The question that really makes you think about how this group compares to the heroes of 2019-20 is whether any of them would make it into the triumphant team.

Many of them who were there then are here now, and pick themselves. Alisson in goal, Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, Virgil van Dijk at centre-back and Andrew Robertson at left-back. 

The title-winning versions. Mo Salah, running down the wing, but this season’s incarnation.

Salah, Mane and Roberto Firmino up top. No one is picking Darwin Nunez instead, are they?

The places up for grabs are next to Van Dijk and who fills the three midfield slots.

Let’s get the defence out the way. It’s between Joe Gomez from the title-winning season and Ibrahima Konate. Joel Matip put up sensational numbers in 2019-20 but only started eight games so is, sadly, ruled out. 

It’s close, too, but Konate dominates his battles more consistently and is more accurate on the ball. He’s winning more of his aerial duels than even Van Dijk at his peak.

Ryan Gravenberch (second left) has been superb both in winning duels and getting the ball forward

It gets more interesting in midfield with a bunch of superb players battling it out for three spots. Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Gini Wijnaldum from the title heroes, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai from the new charges.

Henderson gets straight in, not just for his leadership but the fact his numbers, at winning the ball back, moving it forward and progressing play, were phenomenal that season. Fabinho gets in, too, for the same reasons.

The final spot goes to Ryan Gravenberch. Sorry, Gini. Gravenberch has been superb this season, boasting supreme numbers for his midfield duels and getting the ball forward by either passing it or carrying it.

Everyone, I’m sure, will agree.

My combined XI (Bold players from 2024-25): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson; Fabinho, Gravenberch, Henderson; Salah, Firmino, Mane