Eckert's hat-trick gives Standard Liege a 3-0 win over SK Beveren

Standard Liege had more of the ball and better chances than usual, and Dennis Eckert Ayensa scored all three of their goals.

Dennis Eckert Ayensa scored all three of Standard Liege's goals, which makes it a hat-trick. The first came inside the opening five minutes, with Adnane Abid providing the pass. Eckert struck again from the penalty spot soon after the hour and added a third in the 67th minute, Abid again supplying the assist. A player who scores three in one match rarely leaves the outcome open, and here he settled it at the Maurice Dufrasnestadion.

Standard Liege had 64% of the ball, well above their home average of 50.6% this season. SK Beveren, who usually keep 51.1% of the ball away from home, were held to 36%. Possession on its own does not decide a match, but it meant Liege spent far more time on the ball than they normally do, and that gave them more control over where the game was played.

Liege did not shoot far more often than usual. They took 13 shots, close to their home average of 13.3, so the change lay in the quality of the chances. Expected goals is a measure that adds up how likely each shot was to become a goal, and Liege's total came to 2.00 against an average of 1.47. Ten of their shots came from inside the penalty area, where chances are most likely to go in.

Beveren took fewer shots than they usually do away from home, managing 8 against an average of 9.1. Their expected goals of 0.56 also sat below the 0.68 they normally produce on the road, so their chances were both fewer and less threatening. Johannes Schenk made two saves in the Beveren goal, but the goals that beat him came from chances that the figures suggest were of better quality. C. Janssens and B. Godeau were both booked before half-time, and Godeau had been replaced by the 63rd minute.

The final score of three goals is close to the league average of 3.2 per match, so the total was not unusual for the division. Liege's three goals were well above their home average of 1.5, while Beveren, whose away average is 1.3, failed to score at all. Liege also kept a clean sheet, conceding nothing against a home average of 1.6 goals conceded. That combination of scoring more and conceding less than usual is what made the result stand out.

Liege's home record this season reads three wins, three draws and four defeats, and they sit ninth in the table. Beveren are 13th, and their away record is the weaker of the two sides' tallies, with six defeats in ten away matches. Both sides come into the next round of fixtures with the same sort of mixed history behind them.

Before this match Liege had won one of their last six games, while Beveren had won two.

Player of the matchDennis Eckert Ayensa3 goals10.0

Salieu Drammeh3 chances created8.2

Adnane Abid2 assists8.2

Alexis Trouillet1 chance created7.9