Liverpool haven’t scored from open play in over SIX hours of football… Did the Reds lose their advantage at the worst time? And are Klopp’s farewells likely to turn sour?
Jurgen Klopp rallied to his Liverpool forwards’ defense following his side’s 3-1 Europa League defeat to Atalanta on Thursday.
With so much to play for, Liverpool were ready to make this season one to remember and deliver an epic farewell to their outgoing manager.
Yet, under the pressure of chasing a Premier League title and a place in the Europa League final, the Reds have fallen flat over the past fortnight.
It’s clear that Liverpool’s biggest concern is that they are struggling to put the ball in the back of the net.
Klopp’s side have surprisingly not, by their own standards, scored from open play in their last six hours of competitive football in all competitions.
Liverpool have not scored from open play in their last six hours of competitive football
Jurgen Klopp came to the defense of striker Mohamed Salah after his return from injury
Liverpool crashed out of Europe on Tuesday after suffering a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Atalanta.
This will be a worrying figure for many Liverpool fans. But the interesting thing is not that Liverpool are struggling to create chances. They just don’t put them away.
Is it due to fatigue? Is the pressure mounting on Liverpool? Or do they just experience a purple stain?
Mohamed Salah is one of the Liverpool forward line players who has come under scrutiny for his form in front of goal following his injury layoff.
Despite taking a penalty, Salah was the talking point after Thursday’s match, with Klopp dispelling doubts over the Egyptian’s form, saying “I’m not particularly worried.”
On the pitch, it has been a difficult few weeks for the Reds, who suffered a setback in the title race following their 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield.
While they’re certainly not out of the title race yet, Liverpool have lost their killer instinct just when they perhaps needed to show it most.
Against Palace, they struggled to take their chances, amassing 21 attempts, but only having a measly six chances on target.
In their last four matches in all competitions, Liverpool have managed 43 touches in the opponent’s box per game, according to Opta. This is higher than their season average of 36, showing that the Merseyside side are entering dangerous areas.
Their expected goals total (excluding penalties) is also higher than their season average. Liverpool have had an expected goals ratio of 2.27 per game in their last four matches – compared to their average of 2.07 for the entire 2023-24 campaign.
Salah scored a penalty in their Thursday night match, with Liverpool winning 1-0.
Darwin Nunez has been thrust into the spotlight this season after missing several scoring chances
The Uruguayan missed another chance against Crystal Palace on Sunday from close range.
| Liverpool – All competitions 2023-24 | Last four matches | By game | Season total | By game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goals | 3 | 0.75 | 128 | 2.46 |
| Total number of shots | 78 | 19.5 | 1039 | 20.0 |
| Shot conversion rate | 3.8% | – | 12.3% | – |
| Touches in the opposition area | 172 | 43.0 | 2006 | 38.6 |
| Expected objectives | 10.7 | 2.67 | 117.9 | 2.27 |
| Expected goals (excluding penalties) | 9.1 | 2.27 | 107.7 | 2.07 |
| *figures courtesy of Opta |
But Klopp’s side simply lack that clinical edge. In their last four games, Opta claims to have made 78 shots, or 19.5 per game on average. Of those shots, they only managed to convert a measly 3.8 percent. This is a substantial drop from their per game average throughout this season, which sits at 12.3 percent.
Against Crystal Palace, Liverpool had 21 goal attempts and their expected goals ratio rose to 2.97 – but Klopp’s side only managed to get six shots on target from those chances.
The debate over Darwin Nunez’s goalscoring form has also been a big talking point this season, with the spotlight once again on the Uruguayan striker following Sunday’s game after he became the second player to miss more of 25 big chances this season – just behind Erling. Haaland.
Nunez could also have equalized for the Reds during the match, after his powerful shot from 10 yards was saved by Dean Henderson.
The 24-year-old is an exciting prospect and has shown signs of progress in the Premier League, scoring 11 goals so far this season.
But Liverpool’s problems in front of goal are starting to pose problems. No team has missed more ‘big chances’ than any other team this season, with 62. Meanwhile, no other team has hit the uprights more than Liverpool, who have hit the goalposts 20 times this season. Nunez, interestingly, hit the goal frame nine times.
Klopp says he is ‘not concerned’ about Salah’s struggles to find the back of the net
But as Man City have shown over the last two campaigns, coming to life in the final months of the season is essential to aiding success. This is undoubtedly an area where Liverpool and Arsenal – who need a new striker this summer – need to improve to usurp the Treble winners.
As they struggle amid their lack of goals from open play, Klopp has urged patience and believes his top scorer Salah – who is fourth in the race for the Golden Boot with 17 goals this season – will bounce back.
“I’m not particularly worried,” he said of the Egyptian’s form after scoring a penalty against Atalanta on Thursday. “That’s what strikers do.
“We have to go through this, he has to go through this. He is one of the most experienced players on the team.
“It’s not that Mo hasn’t missed chances before in his life, it’s part of the game. The penalty was super convincing and then the next chance was unlucky, but it’s not not the first time he’s missed opportunities like this. I won’t make a big deal out of it.
