Long, Long, Long

Long balls are back in fashion as Liverpool have discovered to a punishing extent.

“It’s not about the long ball or the short ball, it’s about the right ball.”

BOB PAISLEY

Bob Paisley’s famous quote wouldn’t have been so memorable had he been managing a team against Liverpool in 2025/26.

“So, Bob, what was the secret to your win today?”

“It’s the long ball, Gabriel.”

“Oh right, thanks. Back to the studio.”

The secret is out, except that it is no secret. Some of the statistics in a recent Opta Analyst article on the phenomenon of long passes against the Reds this season were truly startling. All nine of Liverpool’s opponents have attempted an above-average number of long balls when facing them. The three highest long pass totals by match in the 2025/26 Premier League have all been against the Reds. At Anfield, Manchester United had their highest long-ball proportion in a league game since December 2017 against Arsenal (which coincidentally was another match they won when the balance of chances suggested they shouldn’t have).

Using FBRef data, some further points of interest. The proportion of passes Liverpool have faced that were deemed long is 22.4 per cent this season when it was not above 18.6 in any of the preceding seven campaigns. Similarly, the Reds’ long ball possession - their share of the long passes attempted in their games - is 48.2 per cent when it was at least 53 in six of the last seven years.

This shift may not last. Three of Liverpool’s next five league games are against sides in the bottom six for long passes per match this term. Even if these teams amend their plan against the Reds, they are not as geared to play in this way as the likes of Brentford. How effective have these long opposition passes actually been?