Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City at Half-Time: Anfield Stalemate Built on Set-Piece Threat, Not Open Play

Liverpool and Manchester City go into the break at 0-0 at Anfield, a scoreline that flatters neither side's attacking intent but accurately reflects a first half short on clear chances. The hosts have edged the shot count 5-3 and put 2 on target to City's 1, but the expected goals map tells the real story: Liverpool's 0.42 xG is almost entirely built from set plays, while City's 0.07 xG is the lowest open-play return you will see from a Pep Guardiola side in a half of football.

The breakdown is stark. Liverpool's 0.33 xG from set plays accounts for 79% of their total first-half output. From open play, they have generated just 0.09 xG — a figure that underlines how little they have created against a City back line that has held its shape without ever looking truly stretched. Jérémy Jacquet's 0.24 xG is the single largest individual contribution to that set-piece total, a reminder that Liverpool's most dangerous moments have come from dead balls rather than sustained possession.

City, meanwhile, have had 54% of the ball and completed 198 passes at 85% accuracy, 95 of them in Liverpool's half. They have touched the ball in the box 6 times to Liverpool's 10, but the quality of those entries has been poor. Zero big chances for either side. Zero goals. The game has been played in front of defences rather than through them.

Ryan Gravenberch has been central to Liverpool's resistance, and the duel count — 27-25 in Liverpool's favour — shows a home side willing to compete physically rather than sit deep. Ten fouls from Liverpool to City's eight, and one yellow card to the hosts, indicate a first half that has been scrappy in the middle third. City's 4-1-4-1 has kept the ball but not the penetration; Liverpool's 4-2-3-1 has conceded territory but not chances.

The question for the second half is whether City can turn possession into open-play xG, and whether Liverpool's set-piece threat can produce the game's first clear chance. On this evidence, the dead ball remains the most likely source of a goal.