Liverpool FC has seen its fortune changing massively in the last few years. From winning cups to impressing soccer lovers around the world, things are falling into place for the club after a long period of subdued performances. This transformation happened under the leadership of Jurgen Klopp and Fenway Sports Group.
One of the key parts of the strategy they used was data science and analytics. This might sound surprising to the sports fans but it’s real and being used not just in Liverpool FC’s plans but also in many other major teams from different sports worldwide. Processes ranging from player recruitment to on-field training, data science, and analytics are redefining the way the sport is managed. Let’s do an analysis of how it has worked out wonderfully well for Liverpool football club and led it to win major awards in various competitions.
Strategic recruitment
Like all major champions in football, Liverpool needed to transform its hiring strategy and get the best players onboard. They had to be energetic, resilient, and smart thinkers. The club used data science-backed employment data models. These are extremely helpful in assessing players on a number of parameters that are centric to make teams champions. Led by Ian Graham and Michael Edwards, they selected players based on complex algorithms that were made easy to understand with the help of data analysis.
Winning in things you take up as a student comes from a lot of consistent effort. Along with it, you need to devote time to everything from writing assignments to exam preparation and football practice sessions to de-stressing activities. Overall, that’s a lot for a student and even if you put in extra effort, the results will not be as expected. Smart students take extra classes and outsource their work to experts. Consider this – you are too busy with your football classes so you enroll in math classes to understand the concepts that you missed out on in the class. You learn how to study math easily. Same way, smart students don’t wonder who will write my essay if I will devote time to watching a Liverpool match or practice at my academy. They outsource their work to top writers on EduBirdie. It’s the best online writing service that students trust when they are burdened with academic work or are in a personal-level situation.
Planning team dynamics
What is data science use in team dynamics? Let’s find out how Liverpool FC’s attack strategy is based on the unpredictability factor. That keeps the opponents guessing about their moves on the field. The team works on a shared responsibility model so it’s easy to fit one player into another’s without any difficulty. Using math-based tactics, they analyze the combinations and on-field game plans to leave the team they play against in a puzzled state.
Prioritizing tactical synergy over star power
In 2018, Phillipe Coutinho moved to Barcelona, and that made things look gloomy for the club’s fans. But that proved to be a smart move. The funds from the sale were used by Liverpool FC to energize their defense. They brought in strong players like Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker. The message was clear – the club wanted to focus on team power and not star power. They use data to understand what combinations could provide them with maximum output. They worked on creating goal-scoring chances from multiple players and positions. This is something their opponents have found difficult to answer.
Analyzing the opposition
Liverpool Club has a dedicated data analytics team. Their focus is on their own team and also the opponents they play against. Putting comprehensive data on opponents in action, Liverpool is able to analyze key strengths and vulnerabilities. This method gives it a psychological edge and lets it exploit the weak points of the other teams.
Real-time tactical adjustments for Liverpool
During every match, the club uses real-time data to understand emerging patterns. They also use imaging technology to find the gaps in coverage as players take breaks for some or other reason. These actionable insights help the team to analyze and put in place corrective actions at a quick speed.
Contract incentives
Liverpool has proved to be highly innovative in contract designs. It is able to match two main things – players’ incentives and FC’s goals. Performance-based bonuses and clear key metrics help players understand what they are supposed to deliver. It’s much like what happens in startups where the reward is based directly on employee performance.
Conclusion
From being runners-up in 2018-19 to the winners in the 2019-20 Premier League and other major wins like the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup, Liverpool FC has approached their game powerfully and strategically. When we say strategically, it’s about math and data science used extensively in their game plan. Visionary leader Jurgen Klopp has done everything right to bring back the glory to the FC which was once considered as one of the best in its heyday. It lost steam after that but it has come back strongly and shown a new side to everyone on how data science and analytics can be used not just in football but all other sports to come out as champions.
