Do Liverpool score more goals attacking The Kop?
Already this season, Federico Chiesa and Dominik Szobozslai have scored noteworthy goals to win games in front of The Kop at Anfield. Liverpool need a goal, those on The Kop demand it, the ball ends up in the net and the latest hero of the hour wheels away in front of one of the most famous ends of a football ground in world football. Last season, former West Ham striker Michail Antonio said on The Footballer's Football Podcast on BBC Sounds that he has felt The Kop sucking the ball towards goal.
Already this season, Federico Chiesa and Dominik Szobozslai have scored noteworthy goals to win games in front of The Kop at Anfield.
The scene has long been infamous. Liverpool need a goal, those on The Kop demand it, the ball ends up in the net and the latest hero of the hour wheels away in front of one of the most famous ends of a football ground in world football.
Last season, former West Ham striker Michail Antonio said on The Footballer's Football Podcast on BBC Sounds that he has felt The Kop sucking the ball towards goal. Fulham captain Tom Cairney spoke on the same podcast about being 2-1 up with minutes to spare at Anfield, only for a thronging Kop to somehow fuel the Reds to a 2-1 win.
On a similar tangent, Manchester United legend Gary Neville sat with iconic Old Trafford manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who picked out Anfield as one of the grounds he found most testing. Neville's reply was telling, simply stating: "You never felt safe there, did you?"
So is it a convenient myth, or does The Kop actually inspire Liverpool to score more goals. Some fans genuinely rejoice when Liverpool win the toss before kick-off, ensuring they will attack their beloved end in the second half. Are these fans celebrating a false narrative?
Well, with several of you asking if there is truth in The Kop's inspiration via our 'Ask about Liverpool' form, we took the question to the team at LFC History for some help. The website gathers data on the Reds stretching back to 1892.
They told us: "Based on our current dataset (excluding extra-time goals), 52.64% of Liverpool's home goals have been scored attacking The Kop, compared to 47.36% at the Anfield Road End. In raw numbers, that's 2,461 goals at The Kop end and 2,214 goals at the Anfield Road End."
So there you have it. The next time captain Virgil van Dijk wins the toss, feel free to punch the air and if Arne Slot's team are searching for a goal late on at Anfield this season, pay close attention to which end they are attacking. It might just make all the difference.
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