Liverpool FC's Data Revolution - Dr Ian Graham on Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk & Transfer Secrets (E350)
The High Performance Podcast
High Performance
4.8 • 4.7K Ratings
🗓️ 9 May 2025
⏱️ 73 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode, we go inside Liverpool FC’s data revolution with Dr. Ian Graham, the mastermind behind the club’s groundbreaking use of analytics. Ian reveals how his data-driven insights helped reshape recruitment strategy, most notably identifying Mohamed Salah as a top-tier winger long before he became a global star.
He also shares how analytics backed Jurgen Klopp’s appointment, supported pivotal transfer decisions like signing Sadio Mane, and overcame internal resistance to modern methods. From Barcelona comebacks to balancing scouting with stats, this is a rare look at the numbers behind Liverpool's rise to the top.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | If you love high performance, next week's episodes are available early exclusively on the high performance app. |
| 0:05.8 | Out now, UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and the man who made the wrecksome deal possible, Humphrey Carr. |
| 0:14.2 | Sign in Moe was something you could get sacked for if it didn't work out. |
| 0:17.7 | But data helps as it gives you an objective history to compare about. |
| 0:22.4 | We were kind of trying to convince each other. We're like, this process does work, doesn't it? |
| 0:26.8 | Because the outcome, you know, occasionally you have to look at the results and the results |
| 0:30.1 | are bad. Clubs that can't afford to today have the same set of tools at their disposal |
| 0:36.0 | that a Premier League club does, |
| 0:38.2 | AI will help them do that. |
| 0:41.4 | That is the voice of Dr Ian Graham, |
| 0:43.8 | the man who pioneered the use of data analytics, |
| 0:46.1 | helping transform Liverpool Football Club from perennial challengers |
| 0:49.1 | to Champions League and Premier League winners. |
| 0:52.5 | As Liverpool's Director of Research from 2012 to |
| 0:55.0 | 2023, Ian helped build the Premier League's first in-house analytics department, |
| 1:00.0 | developing groundbreaking metrics and playing a crucial role in signing the likes of star players |
| 1:04.6 | Mo Sala, Salli, O'Mane, Virgil Van Dyke, and so many more. |
| 1:09.0 | Today, Ian opens up about explaining how other clubs were blinkered in the view of Mo Salah, |
| 1:14.5 | but how Yergan Club had a very different view on him. |
| 1:17.3 | It was also interesting when he explained the challenges of Brendan Rogers not fully |
| 1:21.3 | trusting data. |
| 1:22.8 | And I'd encourage you to keep listening if you want to know what the future of AI and football |
... |
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