Hoof the ball down the middle, player falls over and gets a free kick, or penalty, goal scored. Player gets the ball in their half from an opposition corner, hoofs it to the wing, player beats the defender and scores.
Team concedes possession and parks the bus, player wins the ball and hoofs it down the middle and player scores. Player gets the ball from an opposition free kick runs the length of the field and passes it to striker who has stayed up and scores goal.
Player gets the ball from the keeper and there are numerous pass and moves because the opposition have got back, play is switched a number of times and players dragged out of position. There is a cross and a headed goal, or there is a shot and a goal or there is a through ball and a goal. This is the way Rodgers tells everyone how he likes to play the game. Scoring from 'open' play.
What the stat is showing is that of the top 5, LFC weren't creative enough to score goals when the opposition were behind the ball. They didn't have the skill and/or ability to break teams down. That is why they fall over to win free kicks, in and around the penalty area, and penalties. A tactic used by England, and Manu, when Beckham was in his prime.
Being effective from free kicks and corners is nothing to be sniffed at, and something I wish we were better at, but because LFC rely on free kicks then that is why they are constantly in the refs ear if they don't get one. Relying on penalties to get goals relies on how gullible a ref is, and how well the player can cheat, and there are no better divers than Suarez, Sturridge, Sterling and Gerrard when a penalty or free kick is 'needed'.
