Antonio Conte has praised how many goals Liverpool are able to score on the counter-attack.
The Tottenham Hotspur manager made the comments following his side’s 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion last night. A scoreline Liverpool matched with victory over Arsenal in London.
“You play 95 minutes, and during the game you have to be good to play and to exploit this situation,” said Conte via football.london.
“Liverpool, I see, many times, that they score on the counter-attack, and Chelsea. The best teams, the best teams. You have to try to exploit every situation.”
Conte’s is the latest in a string of praise for Liverpool from rival managers. Graham Potter called Liverpool one ‘of the best’ teams in football last week, whilst fresh from defeat last night, Mikel Arteta said The Reds were the best team in England.
The proof is in the pudding. Liverpool have closed the gap on Manchester City to just one point and remain in contention for every trophy available this season.
Counter-attacking kings
Conte is right that Liverpool are a supreme counter-attacking team. According to statistics from premierleague.com, The Reds have been in the top four teams for counter-attacking goals in every season since 2017/18.
In the near five full campaigns since then, Liverpool have 35 counter-attacking goals, ahead of Leicester City with 31.
Going back so far is relevant as that was the first season that Liverpool’s front-three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino all played together. It was also the first season that Trent Alexander-Arnold was a regular starter as well as being Andy Robertson’s first year at the club.
Those five players have been so key to the way that Liverpool attack. Mane and Salah in particular have the pace to get forward frighteningly fast as Robertson and Trent play the balls over the top or in-behind.
With Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota now added to the mix, Liverpool have even more pace in their attack. Diaz in particular is extremely quick and has already been giving defenders nightmares since arriving in January.
Jurgen Klopp has built a supreme football team over the last six-and-a-half years. In years to come they’ll surely be looked back on as one of the best ever. But for now let’s just enjoy watching them play.
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