Match Analysis: Ending Streaks - Liverpool & Bordeaux Beaten at Home

WhoScored’s usual early week round up of those unbeaten streaks that have come to an end over the last round of matches sees us focus on the Premier League and Ligue 1. In England’s top flight, Liverpool tasted defeat at Anfield for the first time this term thanks to the finishing of Robin Van Persie, while over in France, Bordeaux lost at home for the first time since the opening day of the season.

Van the Man for Gunners - Match Centre

Both sides came into the match in buoyant mood; the previous weekend had seen Liverpool  crowned Carling Cup winners, while Arsenal had proven the doubters wrong with a  5-2 comeback against bitter rivals Tottenham. Kenny Dalglish’s side had the better possession in Saturday’s early showdown, with 54% of the play - this was particularly impressive given that the Gunners, with an away average of 56.2%, tend to boss games on the road. A look at the action zones also reflects the hosts’ dominance - only 22% of the game was played in Liverpool’s defensive third, compared to Arsenal’s 36%.

Charlie Adam made the most passes for the Merseysiders - the former Blackpool man produced a total of 62, with 3 key passes providing goalscoring opportunities for his team mates. Adam’s distribution was a little wayward, though; only 4 of his 14 crosses found the target, while 6 of his 10 long balls went astray. For Arsenal, Alex Song’s 58 passes was the most - the midfielder also provided 3 key passes, with a superb ball to Van Persie affording the Dutchman the chance to win the match late one. It’s little wonder; Song is seventh in Europe’s top five league for accurate through balls per game, with an average of 0.7 the most in England’s top division.

Liverpool also edged the battle in terms of tackles, with 25 to their visitors’ 21. Jay Spearing’s 5 tackles and 2 interceptions was the most impressive for the hosts. As the Player Position map indicates, Spearing (20) sat deep in central midfield, protecting his back-four, allowing Adam (26) to forage forward from the middle of the park. The Liverpool full-backs also stood out - Martin Kelly made 5 tackles and an interception, while Jose Enrique produced 4 tackles and a couple of interceptions.

For the visitors, Laurent Koscielny had an eye-catching game at centre-half. Despite scoring an own goal, the Frenchman made 6 tackles (including a crucial last man tackle), 5 interceptions and 9 clearances, and also won 3 offside decisions. Thomas Vermaelen’s 4 tackles and 2 interceptions alongside Koscielny is indicative of just how busy the Arsenal rear-guard was.

When it comes to goal attempts, Liverpool again led the way. Ultimately, though, it came down to their inability to take their chances; they had 12 shots, with just 4 on target, compared to Arsenal’s 10 shots, with 7 on target. Front pair Luis Suarez and Dirk Kuyt were the main culprits. They managed 7 efforts between them, with both hitting the woodwork and the latter also missing a penalty. Kuyt provided 2 key passes, while Suarez executed 3 successful dribbles, but neither was able to make the breakthrough.

Theo Walcott had the most opportunities for Arsene Wenger’s side pushing up high on the right, with Arsenal attacking down Liverpool’s left 45% of the time. As a result, he had 4 shots, with 3 on target, though failed to find the net. Robin Van Persie was the difference, once again, for the Gunners. The Dutchman needed only 2 shots to bag a brace and pick up the WhoScored man of the match award with a rating of 8.81. The 2-1 defeat was the first time Liverpool had conceded more than one goal at home this season and, in the end, saw their unbeaten record at Anfield finally come to an end.

Inept Finishing Proves Bordeaux’s Undoing - Match Centre

Unbeaten in their last twelve home matches, with the previous six all resulting in wins, Bordeaux were overwhelming favourites as they played host to Nice. The visitors had failed to win away all season and with just 3 points from 12 games on the road, had the worst away record in Ligue 1 prior to Saturday evening’s showdown.

Bordeaux only have themselves to blame for their surprise defeat, though. They controlled the game, with 69% possession, and played 37% of the game in their opponents’ final third compared to just 16% in their own defensive third. Ludovic Sané, playing on the right of Bordeaux’s three-man defence, made the most passes (74) and, as the Player Position chart shows, Sané (6) ventured forward as far as the halfway line when in possession, with the vast majority of Bordeaux’s players high up the pitch when on the ball.

The home side’s complete dominance is illustrated by the fact that nine of their outfield starting ten managed more passes than Fabián Monzón who, with 38, made the most for Nice. Despite their control of the ball only one player - Ludovic Obraniak – made more than a single key pass, with 2. Marc Planus also impressed from defence, completing 17 of the 18 long balls he played.

Nice were also second best for tackles, making 17 to their hosts 21, as Bordeaux showed determination to instantly win back possession and pressurise their opponents. Sané was again the stand-out player, with a total of 8 as he foraged forward into midfield, while Planus’ 5 interceptions and a tackle, supplemented by his side’s only goal, earned him the WhoScored man of the match with a rating of 7.87.

Lloyd Palun and Kafoumba Coulibaly both produced 4 tackles and 3 interceptions for the visitors, with the Nice midfield overrun at times as their hosts piled forward. Francois Clerc also stood out, with a couple of tackles and 7 interceptions halting Bordeaux’s play time and again.

Given their dominance, it’s no surprise to see Bordeaux fire off the most shots, either. The home side managed 13 to Nice’s 8 but the visitors had twice as many on target (6 to 3). Bordeaux, despite 70% of their attempts coming from inside the penalty box, proved wasteful in front of goal. Obraniak’s 3 attempts were the most for the hosts, but with not a single effort on target, his shooting was indicative of an overall poor display of finishing. Yoan Gouffran and Jussie, the front men in a 3-5-2, managed a single shot between them all match.

While Bordeaux’s 13 shots came from a total of eight players, just five Nice players managed an effort all game. Left-back Fabián Monzón and Abraham Guié Guié – on as an early sub up front - were the only two to muster more than 1; Monzón had 3, with 2 on target, while both Guié’s efforts were on target. The pair grabbed a goal apiece; with Monzón netting the opener from the spot before Guié stretched the visitors lead just before half-time. Despite Bordeaux grabbing a goal back, Nice held on for a 2-1 win, picking up a vital three points that saw them increase their lead to 5 points over Sochaux at the bottom of the table.