Liverpool's 22 shots ran well past the usual count in a 4-3 win

Liverpool beat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield in a goal-heavy match built on a big shooting return and chances of better quality than usual.

Twenty-two shots is a lot of football to fit into one evening, and Liverpool managed it at Anfield in a 4-3 win over Villarreal. The average side in this competition takes 14.59 shots a match, so Liverpool's total sat well above the typical figure. Their chances were better too. Their expected goals, a rough score for how likely each attempt was to go in based on where and how it was struck, came to 2.41, against a competition average of 1.75.

Villarreal were close to the usual level on volume, with 14 shots, but their expected goals of 1.54 sat below the typical figure, so the chances they created were, on this measure, less promising than most sides manage. Liverpool also had more of the ball, at 53% possession against 47%. They completed 463 of their 539 passes, while Villarreal completed 415 of their 498.

Seven goals is well above the competition average of 3.57 per match, and the scoring began early. Georges Mikautadze put Villarreal ahead in the fourth minute, and Sergi Cardona doubled their lead after 29 minutes, with Nathan-Dylan Saliba credited with the assist. Alexis Mac Allister pulled one back for Liverpool in the 36th minute, and Ronald Araujo levelled just before half-time, with Rio Ngumoha providing the assist.

The second half belonged to Liverpool on the scoreboard. Mac Allister struck again in the 65th minute, and Florian Wirtz made it 4-2 in the 68th, assisted by Cody Gakpo. Tani Oluwaseyi gave Villarreal a late consolation in the 87th minute, with Ayoze Pérez providing the assist. Mac Allister finished the night with two goals and the top match rating among Liverpool players, 9.19, while Ngumoha's two assists and 8.6 rating marked him as the other standout.

The shot quality numbers tell a similar story. Liverpool had 14 shots from inside the penalty area, against 9 for Villarreal, and 7 of their attempts were on target, compared with 5 for the visitors. Villarreal's goalkeeper made 4 saves, while Liverpool's made 2, and Liverpool won 7 corners to Villarreal's 2. Villarreal picked up two yellow cards, while Liverpool received none.

Mikautadze had the best rating for Villarreal, 7.53, and he was among the few players on either side to score and receive a high mark from the match ratings. Cardona and Oluwaseyi also found the net, and Pérez's assist in the 87th minute came from a bench-influenced spell that his numbers capture well. These are the kinds of figures that show where a match was decided, and this one was decided in the final third by sharper finishing from Liverpool.

Liverpool now sit fifth in the table after two matches, with six points from two wins and eight goals scored. Villarreal have also played two, but they have won one and lost one, leaving them 15th on three points.

Player of the matchA. Mac Allister2 goals9.2

R. Ngumoha2 assists8.6

F. Wirtz1 goal7.7

G. Mikautadze1 goal7.5