Statistics can be warped and twisted to suit an agenda, but sometimes they add weight to an argument and create a clarity that is sometimes lacking when emotion is involved.
Take Calvin Bassey and Borna Barisic for example.
Earlier in the season, there are fans that would have cashed in on the Croatian international and promoted the former Leicester City academy graduate to be first choice, but the numbers – after three games each admittedly – suggest that the elder statesman, rightly, remains number one.
Across almost every metric provided by fbref.com, Barisic is out performing his younger colleague, some may mind this hard to believe with Bassey’s dynamism and infective enthusiasm making it appear that he is more productive.
Looking at league fixtures, because they have played an even number and the standard of opposition is similar rather than one of them having a game against Championship opposition in their stats whilst the other has played in the Champions League, we can see why Barisic is Steven Gerrard’s go to guy.
The Croatian has one assist to Bassey’s none, crucially, the match winner against Celtic. In defence, he performs even stronger having committed just one foul, made three interceptions and four tackles where we have retained possession. Bassey has fouled seven times with one interception and three turnover tackles.
Gerrard always wants two good players for each position, and that is what he has at left-back, Bassey is rough around the edges but has all the potential to make the spot his own in the future – just not yet.