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Short link: storygaffer.com/07. The narration is AI-generated.

Tactics · Liverpool · 2018–2020

In 2018, Liverpool hired a throw-in coach.

22 October 202639 sAnfield, Liverpool

People laughed when Liverpool hired Thomas Grønnemark, a world record holder for the flip throw, to coach throw-ins. In one season, Liverpool went from 18th to 1st in the Premier League for keeping the ball from throw-ins under pressure.

The stat that matters

Keeping the ball from throw-ins under pressure: 45% to 68%, 18th to 1st.

Match report

  • In 2018, Liverpool hired Thomas Grønnemark as a throw-in coach, and people laughed.
  • Grønnemark holds the world record for the longest throw-in with a flip: 51.33 m, set in 2010.
  • Throw-ins happen about 46 times a match. That rate comes from StatsBomb's data on the 2015/16 Premier League (46.2 per game), so it's a typical figure rather than one from Liverpool's seasons.
  • Under pressure, Liverpool were keeping the ball from just 45% of their throw-ins, 18th in the league.
  • After one season with Grønnemark, that was 68%, 1st in the Premier League.
  • Andy Robertson's throws went from 19 m to 27 m.
  • Liverpool won the Champions League that season, then the Premier League.
  • The 45% to 68% figures (45.4% and 68.4%) and Robertson's distances come from press reporting of the club's and Grønnemark's own numbers, not our own count.

The players, pitch and throws are illustrations, not real footage.

On screen

  1. In 2018, Liverpool hired a throw-in coach.
  2. People laughed.
  3. Thomas Grønnemark: world record flip throw.
  4. The longest ever: 51.33 m.
  5. Throw-ins per match: about 46.
  6. Under pressure, Liverpool kept the ball from just 45%.
  7. 18th in the league.
  8. One season with Grønnemark: 68%.
  9. 1st in the Premier League.
  10. Andy Robertson's throws: 19 m → 27 m.
  11. That season: Champions League.
  12. Then the Premier League.
  13. Nobody's laughing now.