The repercussions of the goal Liverpool were denied at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday night threaten to overshadow all of the game’s positive aspects. The fact that the Reds scored more goals than Tottenham did when it was 11 against 11 has a slyly comical quality to it. The team that didn’t take the points appears to be a far better long-term wager.
The fact that the goal was incorrectly disallowed prevented Luis Daz from scoring for the fourth time this season—just one strike less than he managed in the entire 2022–23 season—is a problem that is rightfully almost nonexistent on the list of the priorities from the disaster. Also cruelly broken was Mohamed Salah’s streak of contributing to a goal in every game in 2023–24.
Even though the non-goal was an egregious example, it is part of a larger problem that statistics are affected by the way sports are now officiated. Chances that wouldn’t have counted stay in the data because assistant referees are urged to keep their flags down unless a goal is scored. The converse issue also occurs at Tottenham, where a great pass, a great opportunity, a great finish, and a goal are all erroneously removed off the record.
For Liverpool fans everywhere, the moment will live on long after other people’s memories of the game fade. But it’s also important to keep in mind that Salah gave Daz two other opportunities. Aside from Tottenham’s first goal, one of them, in first-half stoppage time, was the opportunity with the highest xG value that either team created on the day.
While not exactly the same, it was similar to how the Reds scored their first goal of the season against Chelsea thanks to Salah’s exquisite through-ball pass to D’az. They make a good team and have done so for the duration of their relationship.
Prior to this season, the Egyptian set up his Colombian teammate for the game’s first goal in the 4-0 victory over Manchester United in April 2022. However, there have been other good opportunities, one of which came in their first game together, a 2-0 triumph over Leicester City.
It’s not surprising that they get along so well as a team, especially at this point in each of their individual careers. With each passing year, Salah has developed into more of a creative, with his crucial pass and shot rates per 90 minutes with Liverpool being closer together in 2023/24 than they have ever been. D’az, on the other hand, possesses the speed, agility, and cunning to find room where others would not.
According to Understat, the chances Salah has given the former Porto player in the Premier League have been worth an average of 0.23 anticipated goals, which is more than twice the rate for an ordinary shot. This is a better number than Salah offered Sadio Mané (0.20) and Roberto Firmino (0.15), but his altering role undoubtedly played an effect. However, the sample is small and never likely to achieve a similar size. Obviously, the greatest assist maker in Jürgen Klopp’s managing career’s inherent selfishness may have also hindered his erstwhile front three teammates.
Despite the sarcasm, it is still a remarkable record. Darwin Nez is the only player Salah has a better chance creation relationship with, which, if for no other reason, paints a vision of Klopp’s most potent front three in 2023.
We would probably all be discussing the amazing pairing of Salah and D’az if it weren’t for a huge, catastrophic error made by the video assistant referee, the assistant video assistant referee, and anyone else was hanging out in the bunker at Stockley Park. We should still give them credit even though their goal was removed from the records.