Liverpool trio keeping rivals on the run

Adrian Clarke on how Firmino, Mane and Coutinho are striking fear into opposition defences

In the fifth piece of Adrian Clarke's take a gander at the Premier League's brightest mixes of 2016/17, he discusses the incomparable comprehension between Liverpool's front three.

From the minute Jurgen Klopp unleashed his new three-man assault against Arsenal on the opening end of the week this season, Liverpool have excited us with a brand of high-octane, courageous football.

Creating 10 helps and 16 objectives between them, the effect Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane have had as a trio has apparently been the most exciting part of 2016/17.

Robe

to Firmino, Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho have created 16 objectives and 10 helps between them this season

As an aggregate they click perfectly. In spite of basic conviction, these three don't just wander where they wish.

All things considered Klopp requests that Coutinho work from the left, Mane the privilege, and Firmino down the middle.

As their warmth maps v Crystal Palace appear, Philippe Coutinho works from the left, Roberto Firmino down the inside and Mane down the privilege

The way to their prosperity is an intense consciousness of when to pick the right minutes to make an erratic keep running, with and without the ball.

This is not without any preparation. Placing pictures in his players' heads is something Klopp will have invested hours penetrating into them on the preparation ground.

At the point when a Liverpool forward claims the ball, everyone around him will move rapidly to offer support, giving the man under lock and key choices to the side and in front.

The nearness of Mane, who likes to extend guards in behind, has helped incredibly in such manner.

The way to Liverpool's prosperity is knowing the right minutes to make a run, both with and without the ball, says Adrian Clarke

While every one of the three are handy and generally brisk, the savage vitality of their development is the thing that makes them so malevolent to handle.

Practically every run they make is intentional, and that rhythm guarantees that holes are made.

When you consider which Premier League players sprint regularly (see table beneath), the majority of Liverpool's forward line, including Adam Lallana, are among the main lights.

With runners coming at them at speed and from changing edges, it is no big surprise adversaries have discovered them such a bad dream to contain.

Most sprints per 90

Player	Mins played	Sprints	Sprints per 90
Firmino	890	778	78.67
Lallana	771	647	75.53
Watmore	774	634	73.72
Mane	868	703	72.89
Alli	803	622	69.71
Sterling	854	656	69.13
Sigurdsson	898	680	68.15
Hazard	918	687	67.35
Walcott	864	630	65.63
Costa	967	704	65.52
Puncheon	781	567	65.34
Coutinho	843	611	65.23

In terms of end product, Coutinho’s partnerships with Mane and Firmino are among the Premier League’s most prolific for chance creation.

Most combined chances created

Player 1	Player 2	Combined chances created
Coutinho	Mane	14
Coutinho	Firmino	13
Benteke	Puncheon	13
Pogba	Ibrahimovic	13

As if to confirm there is no single pairing that shines brightest among the three, it is the Firmino-Mane partnership that has delivered the most assists, with a total of three.
While these in-form stars all stay fit and full of confidence, Liverpool will be in a great position to score plenty of goals.
They form a unit that penetrates defences with speed and efficiency. In their last three PL encounters, for example, the three have shared 23, 24 and 22 touches inside the opposition box.
For as long as this synergy stays at such a high level, Klopp has no need at all to tinker with his attacking formula. Momentum is theirs.

Tomorrow Adrian Clarke gives his take on the pairing reviving West Ham's fortunes.