Liverpool has made it a habit to change games from the bench this season.
The Reds have won more points from losing positions than any other team in the Premier League this season, while their ‘bouncebackability’ has extended to other competitions as well.
Jurgen Klopp’s side needed to come from behind once again to beat Fulham 2-1 in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi final at Anfield on Wednesday, when Willian helped the visitors to a shock lead in the first half.
Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nuñez became the heroes on the night, helping change the game from the subs bench in the second half.
The Dutchman scored the Reds’ winner on 71 minutes, while Nuñez the grabbed assist for both Gakpo and Curtis Jones’ deflected equaliser three minutes earlier.
The bench proved decisive once again for Klopp, with squad depth making all the difference when it comes to getting results.
As noted by Opta, Liverpool have had more goal involvements from substitutes (30) in all competitions than any other Premier League side – with the nearest rival registering just 18.
Nuñez leads the way when it comes to individuals with the biggest impact from the bench, totalling seven goal involvements (three goals, four assists) so far in 2023/24.
It was an especially impressive half-hour cameo from the Uruguayan, who had the highest expected goals (0.76), the most touches in the opposition box (12) and had the joint most shots (4) of any Liverpool player – as well as earning both assists.
Discussing his side’s ability to eek out results with help from the subs, Klopp made note of the depth of quality at his disposal.
He told reporters in his post-match press conference: “The boys. I hope you all know… I don’t care if you know, I love the kids, but you have to bring them in the right moment – or when you have to take risks, or whatever, that’s how it is.
“It must be the right moment. But when we have all [players] available, and the quality we can bring on [from the bench], it’s pretty good, I have to say.
“Of course, at the moment they are not all available, but the boys who came on, they have real quality, obviously, already.
“The others [younger players] will have that in the future. And that’s the reason for it, you see that.”
He added: “The impact they [Gakpo and Nuñez] had was obviously really big, but before that we’d found our feet already slightly better.”
