Comparing the stats of every Liverpool midfield trio since the start of 19-20

Quick Reads

Planet Football
12th March 2020

Liverpool are set to end their wait for a Premier League title this season – but their best midfield three is still up for debate.

In all competitions this season, Jurgen Klopp has used 20 different combinations of a midfield three when using his favoured 4-3-3 formation.

We’ve calculated the respective win ratios of each trio and how many goals the side as a whole has scored and conceded per game depending on which three players are in the engine room.

Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Henderson

Matches played: 13
Wins: 10
Draws: 2
Defeats: 1
Win rate: 76.9%
Goals scored per game: 2.3
Goals conceded per game: 0.9

Klopp has used this three more than any other this season – and it’s not hard to see why.

The Reds have won 76.9% of their games with Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Georgino Wijnaldum, including crucial league wins over Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham.

This midfield also got a draw at Old Trafford but suffered defeat for the first time this season in the first leg against Atletico Madrid. Until then, it seemed like you didn’t even need to watch Liverpool, you could just follow their results on live score sites knowing they would not be beaten.

Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wijnaldum

Matches played: 6
Wins: 5
Draws: 0
Defeats: 1
Win rate: 83.3%
Goals scored per game: 1.8
Goals conceded per game: 0.8

Fabinho, Milner, Henderson

Matches played: 3
Wins: 0
Draws: 2
Defeats: 1
Win rate: 0%
Goals scored per game: 1.0
Goals conceded per game: 1.6

This trio have the worst record of any Liverpool midfield three this season as they are without a win in their three outings.

Klopp started the trio in both Champions League group games against Napoli, a 2-0 defeat away from home and a 1-1 draw at Anfield, as well as the draw with Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup final (which Liverpool eventually won on penalties).

"We could have put the job to bed tonight but unfortunately we couldn't find that winning goal… We've got to do a job away there (Red Bull Salzburg) now."@DesKellyBTS with Reds captain Jordan Henderson, following Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Napoli… pic.twitter.com/byOu61o9n3

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 27, 2019

Henderson, Wijnaldum, Keita

Matches played: 3
Wins: 3
Draws: 0
Defeats: 0
Win rate: 100%
Goals scored per game: 2.3
Goals conceded per game: 0.0

Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain

Matches played: 3
Wins: 2
Draws: 0
Defeats: 1
Win rate: 66.7%
Goals scored per game: 1.6
Goals conceded per game: 1.6

The trio have a 66.7% win rate but started in Liverpool’s 3-0 loss to Watford, their only defeat in the Premier League so far this season.

Klopp decided to give them another chance in their next league game, and they helped the Reds to a 2-1 win over Bournemouth.

It was the goal that all but ended @LFC's 44-game unbeaten run…❎

Ismaila Sarr's cool second goal for Watford against the Premier League leaders is the @GilletteUK #PrecisionPlayOfTheWeek pic.twitter.com/sQTVodYZgz

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 2, 2020

Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita

Matches played: 3
Wins: 2
Draws: 1
Defeats: 0
Win rate: 66.7%
Goals scored per game: 3.0
Goals conceded per game: 2.0

Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Keita

Matches played: 2
Wins: 2
Draws: 0
Defeats: 0
Win rate: 100%
Goals scored per game: 2.5
Goals conceded per game: 1.5

Naby Keita has never had a consistent run in the team due to injury problems but has looked impressive during his few starts this season.

This trio has only been used on two occasions, but it worked effectively as Liverpool won both of those games and scored five goals.

Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Milner

Matches played: 1
Wins: 1
Draws: 0
Defeats: 0
Win rate: 100%
Goals scored per game: 2.0
Goals conceded per game: 1.0

Fabinho, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain

Matches played: 1
Wins: 1
Draws: 0
Defeats: 0
Win rate: 100%
Goals scored per game: 4.0
Goals conceded per game: 1.0

This trio was deployed in the 4-1 victory over Genk in October, where Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain opened the scoring then got another in the second half.

Despite its success, Klopp hasn’t used this combination again, although that performance does leave those midfielders with a pretty impressive record together.

Talk about announcing your Champions League return in style 😍

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a touch of pure class when Liverpool visited Genk! pic.twitter.com/1dDGmfLm4a

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 5, 2019

Fabinho, Lallana, Jones

Matches played: 1
Wins: 0
Draws: 0
Defeats: 1
Win rate: 0%
Goals scored per game: 0.0
Goals conceded per game: 2.0

Wijnaldum, Milner, Lallana

Matches played: 1
Wins: 1
Draws: 0
Defeats: 0
Win rate: 100%
Goals scored per game: 5.0
Goals conceded per game: 2.0

Klopp was without the injured Fabinho for the Merseyside derby in December 2019 and experimented with Wijnaldum, James Milner and Adam Lallana in midfield.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Georginio Wijnaldum adds a fifth for @LFC in a five-star Merseyside derby display 🔴#PLonPrime #LIVEVE pic.twitter.com/VKeFrGLnZN

— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 4, 2019

Wijnaldum, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain

Matches played: 1
Wins: 1
Draws: 0
Defeats: 0
Win rate: 100%
Goals scored per game: 2.0
Goals conceded per game: 1.0

Henderson, Milner, Keita

Matches played: 1
Wins: 1
Draws: 0
Defeats: 0
Win rate: 100%
Goals scored per game: 3.0
Goals conceded per game: 0.0

Liverpool rotated their midfield against Bournemouth in preparation for a crucial Champions League group stage game against Red Bull Salzburg.

That saw Henderson, Milner and Keita given their first start together this season and Liverpool cruised to a 3-0 win, but they haven’t started together since.

-Naby Keitas powerful elegant run forward?✅

-Salah sees the run of Keita and plays a perfectly weighted backheel even if he's marked by 3 players?✅

-Naby's calm collected elegant side foot finish?✅

The perfect goal😍
pic.twitter.com/JujzZvxRQh

— Owen🇩🇪🇨🇦 (@LFCOwen96) December 8, 2019

Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita

Matches played: 1
Wins: 1
Draws: 0
Defeats: 0
Win rate: 100%
Goals scored per game: 1.0
Goals conceded per game: 0.0

Chirivella, Jones, Lallana

Matches played: 1
Wins: 1
Draws: 0
Defeats: 0
Win rate: 100%
Goals scored per game: 1.0
Goals conceded per game: 0.0

Klopp went with Pedro Chirivella, Curtis Jones and Lallana for the 1-0 victory over Everton in the FA Cup, with Jones scoring a sensational winner to take them into the next round.

🚀

Curtis Jones' first senior goal might just be the best one he ever scores.

Sorry Everton fans..pic.twitter.com/xSI8kTZM46

— BT Sport (@btsport) January 6, 2020

Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum

Matches played: 1
Wins: 1
Draws: 0
Defeats: 0
Win rate: 100%
Goals scored per game: 2.0
Goals conceded per game: 0.0

Chirivella, Kane, Christie-Davies

Matches played: 1
Wins: 0
Draws: 0
Defeats: 1
Win rate: 0%
Goals scored per game: 0.0
Goals conceded per game: 5.0

While Liverpool’s first team were playing in the Club World Cup, this midfield trio was selected for their League Cup tie against Aston Villa as the Reds’ young side were beaten 5-0.

Henderson, Lallana, Wijnaldum

Matches played: 1
Wins: 1
Draws: 0
Defeats: 0
Win rate: 100%
Goals scored per game: 2.0
Goals conceded per game: 1.0

Fabinho, Chirivella, Jones

Matches played: 1
Wins: 0
Draws: 1
Defeats: 0
Win rate: 0%
Goals scored per game: 2.0
Goals conceded per game: 2.0

After their performances against Everton, Chirivella and Jones kept their place in the team for the FA Cup tie against Shrewsbury while Fabinho was brought into the midfield.

They raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to Jones’ strike and a Donald Love own goal before two second-half goals from Jason Cummings sent the tie to a replay.

Right foot 🆚 Everton

Left foot 🆚 Shrewsbury Town

Curtis Jones can do both!#EmiratesFACup #SHRLIV pic.twitter.com/a8mCI4K9Eu

— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 26, 2020