The league table doesn't lie. And anybody wondering how Liverpool's Premier League season has been going need only look at the standings as the campaign pauses for the World Cup.
After 14 games, the Reds stand in sixth place on 22 points, seven behind the top four - albeit with a game in hand - and a whopping 15 adrift of leaders Arsenal.
It's their worst start to a campaign under Jurgen Klopp having already lost double the amount of league games in which they were defeated last term, while winning just six times so far. Yet only the top four have scored more goals - two having played a game extra - and just the top three have conceded fewer times.
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So, what exactly is going on with Liverpool?
A delve into the statistics suggests the Reds are doing an awful lot of things in exactly the same manner as they did last term with some rather notable - and decisive - differences.
Similar to last season, champions Manchester City have the most average possession ahead of Liverpool, the Reds only marginally enjoying a bit less of the ball this campaign with 61.7% compared to 63.1%. The pass accuracy is also slightly down from 84.9% to 83.3%.
Liverpool had the most shots on goal per game last season with 19.2. And while they are second only to City this time around, their average has dropped to 17.1, mostly made up by their number of shots outside the area slipping from 6.3 to 4.2 a game. At least they remain accurate, with the average of 6.3 efforts on target a game not too dissimilar to the figure of 6.7 last term - both the best in the league.
As last term, no team has put in more crosses than Liverpool per game. There has, though, been a notable fall in the number of dribbles, 6.6 compared to 9, although that is a trend apparent across the league. Intriguingly, leaders Arsenal top that particular table, but not a single team has had more successful dribbles than unsuccessful ones - a number that may well change over the course of the season as positive results become more imperative.
Liverpool's overall defending, though, is where the big change is happening.
Only City have made fewer tackles on average per match than Liverpool, which perhaps isn't a surprise given the duo's dominant possession statistics. The Reds' number is on a par with last season, as is their number of interceptions in a game (9 last campaign, 8.8 this).
The number of times Liverpool players are dribbled past is at first alarming, the average of 7.1 per game lower only than Wolves, Leeds United and Newcastle United. It is, though, still significantly less than last season's average of 9. At the other end, Manchester City have been dribbled past the fewest times on average, followed by Nottingham Forest and Everton - pointing to the regular low blocks of those two struggling teams.
Liverpool are catching teams offside slightly more often this campaign, while the number of clearances has also marginally gone up and there is negligible difference in the average of shots, crosses and passes blocked per game.
The Reds are recovering the ball more often than any other team, as they did last term, but intriguingly they are losing out when competing for high balls. Klopp's side have lost on average more aerial challenges this season (13.6 to 12.4 last term) and the difference in those won is even more pronounced, 12.9 this campaign compared to 15.1 in 2021/22.
The most alarming change, though, is in the amount of shots on goal Klopp's side are coughing up this season. The tally of 10.1 per game is decent in terms of their rivals - only Brighton, Arsenal and City have managed fewer - but it is a notable increase on last term's 7.8 per game, which was bettered only by City.
This is demonstrated by Alisson Becker being far more busy this season than last. The Reds goalkeeper has had to make an average of 3.3 saves a game - only five teams have seen their keeper more busy, with City and Arsenal's shot-stoppers the most unemployed - compared to just 2.2 last term, the second lowest in the Premier League. Using the post-shot expected goals metric, Alisson has a positive figure of 7.6, almost double the next keeper. Put simply, the quality of chance Liverpool have been allowing means they should really have conceded another eight goals were it not for the Brazilian.
In terms of where the shots are being leaked, the number inside the penalty area has almost doubled - those in the six-yard box and outside the area remain roughly the same.
And, of course, these numbers back up the main change the eye has been able to see from Liverpool this season - their trademark high pressing hasn't been as intense. In terms of PPDA - passes allowed per defensive action - the Reds last season allowed an average of only 9.9 per game, the best in the Premier League. Such high turnovers led to Liverpool having 71 shots and scoring seven goals. This season, the figure has gone out to 12.3 per game, meaning only one goal has been scored as a result of such actions with just 17 shots.
The reasons are undoubtedly complex, ranging from a new-look attack, injury absences - particularly in midfield - the condensed schedule and individual dips in form meaning Liverpool have had no option but to ease off on the intensity. The knock-on effect has been clear.
This all points to the obvious. Using the xG (expected goals) metric, Liverpool aren't creating as many good chances as last season and are offering up far more good opportunities to their opponents.
In terms of the difference between expected goals scored and conceded per game, the Reds have a figure on average of 0.34 - hugely down on the 1.52 they managed last term. It is the sixth highest in the Premier League - matching their position in the table - with City, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur making up the top four, as in the standings. On top of this, Liverpool are yet to be awarded a penalty - they had five last season - and have conceded three already compared to none last term.
There is, then, not just one matter the Reds must address, but several interlinked issues. Key, though, will be regaining their intensity. Whether that's best achieved through greater rotation, tactical tweaks, different combinations or a fresh face or two is the conundrum with which Klopp and his coaching staff will be grappling until the season resumes after the World Cup.
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