That may sound like the plot of a superhero movie but this is the story of FC Midtjylland, Liverpool's Champions League opponents on Tuesday. Nicknamed 'Moneyball FC', Midtjylland have been using statistics and data analysis to significant effect, bringing in underrated players on the cheap, unleashing their talent, and selling them on for a large profit. It is a system also utilised by Championship side Brentford, which is of little surprise given the Bees' owner is also the majority shareholder at FC Midtjylland, but their approach has influenced many clubs, including Liverpool. "We were two clubs merged who hated each other and now we are in the Champions League against the odds," director Rasmus Ankersen tells BBC World Service Sport. Now they hope their approach can make its mark in their debut season in the Champions League.

Source: BBC October 27, 2020 06:33 UTC