Liverpool’s five most frequently fouled players

Liverpool’s end-of-season charge toward the title is ramping up, with the Reds the most in-form team in the Premier League and up to second place in the table after a 3-0 win at Southampton at the weekend.

The team’s attacking style of play is based on fast transitions, pressing quickly to win the ball and the great pace and technique of their attacking players, which can often lead to opposition defenders committing themselves and making fouls to stop Liverpool’s attacks. Luckily for the Reds, they have improved significantly on their dead-ball prowess this season, so even fouls don’t necessarily stop the goal threat—Liverpool have scored more than any other Premier League side from set pieces this season.

But which of the Reds’ players draw the most fouls?

5. Glen Johnson – 22

Liverpool’s raiding right-back Glen Johnson has missed part of this season through injury, but is still fairly safe in the top five. His runs down the flanks, when he is at his best at least, are a good outlet for Liverpool and he is also adept at shielding the ball from opponents when a quick pass isn’t on. He can get caught in possession at times—but also wins his share of free kicks in doing so. Johnson has been fouled 22 times this season in 19 games.

4. Daniel Sturridge – 28

One half of Liverpool’s SAS strike-force, Sturridge is much more than just a pure striker. He is capable in dropping off into space to create chances for others, likes to beat defenders coming in from the right flank and, of course, will look to shoot from any distance.

In doing so, he can often draw fouls from defenders looking to close him down at the last minute; they haven’t managed to do that too well this term, with Sturridge the league’s second-highest goalscorer with 18 goals in just 20 matches. The striker gets fouled even more often than he scores, though, having won 28 free kicks for his team so far.

3. Philippe Coutinho – 34

Liverpool’s Brazilian playmaker naturally draws attention from opposing defenders due to his ability to drive forward into space and play defence-splitting passes for attackers to run onto. Blessed with an impressive appreciation of how to find himself without markers around him and intelligent off-the-ball movement, Coutinho is frequently quickly closed down—but his clever footwork and ability to pass a split-second before the challenge comes in can see him fouled with regularity.

Coutinho has suffered 34 fouls this season in his 23 games.

2. Raheem Sterling – 46

Sterling has been one of the biggest success stories of Liverpool’s second half of the season so far, putting in performances to help Liverpool win games and score plenty of goals—just like at the weekend where he scored with his first touch after coming on.

With pace to burn and a real direct style of play, Sterling’s athleticism and drive allows him to beat defenders with ease, at times leaving them with the choice of either fouling him or letting him hare toward goal. Of course, plenty take the former option and a yellow card along with it, to the tune of Sterling having amassed 46 fouls on him in 23 games—an average of two per game.

1. Luis Suarez – 47

No surprises for guessing that Luis Suarez is Liverpool’s most-fouled player, but it’s a close contest. With 47 fouls suffered in 23 games this term he’s only one ahead of Sterling. That most recent one extra foul was, in fact, the penalty he won against Southampton, dispatched by team-mate Steven Gerrard, in the last minute of the game.

Suarez’s trickery, skill and relentless bullying of defenders sees him pushed, pulled and kicked all over the show, yet only serves to see him come back for more. The league’s leading goalscorer and assist creator seems utterly unperturbed by the treatment handed out by the league’s defenders.