While Arne Slot has rightfully come in for criticism for Liverpool’s poor form, the statistics suggest individual performances are also to blame.
Liverpool are suffering a historically bad slump, winning just two league games since September 20 and conceding three or more goals in six of their last 10 matches.
If you were going off just the Premier League’s statistical charts, though, you would be surprised to learn that they are 10 points off the top.
With just 23 points from 15 matches this campaign, Liverpool have consistently made individual errors at the back while looking blunt in attack.
Despite this, they have created 42 big chances this season according to FotMob, a tally only bettered by Man City (49) and Arsenal (42).
In addition, they have averaged more possession than any other team with 61.5 percent of the ball, and Liverpool players have taken 465 touches in the opposition box, again a number only bettered by Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta’s teams.
It is their quality in key moments, however, which has let them down.
Is Liverpool’s finishing to blame?
• READ: Liverpool are dominating on xG – Here is why it’s not translating to points
For example, though Liverpool have created 42 big chances, they have missed 30 of those – only Man City have failed to take advantage more frequently.
Their problems in front of goal can also be demonstrated through the prism of xG (expected goals).
Across their last 15 matches in all competitions, Liverpool have created 28 xG but have scored just 20 in reality. At the other end, they have conceded 20.63 xG but actually let in 28 goals.
This suggests Slot himself is facing hard lines, with his forwards failing to put the ball in the net when called upon.
However, anyone with eyes knows that there is far more wrong with Liverpool than just poor finishing.
Liverpool are conceding more than their xG predicts
The fact Liverpool are conceding more often than their xG predicts is unusual. In most cases, fingers would be pointed at the goalkeeper, but neither Alisson nor Giorgi Mamardashvili have been noticeably poor.
Therefore, the opposition’s finishing must have been freakishly good or Liverpool are allowing them chances in dangerous areas – the latter is almost definitely the case.
Only the Leeds, Man United and Wolves goalkeepers have a lower save percentage combined than Liverpool this season in the Premier League, according to FBRef.
PSxG (post-shot expected goals) is a metric used to measure the quality of a strike on target and the likelihood of it being saved.
For example, a shot with 0.7 PSxG has a 70 percent chance of hitting the net, in theory. A shot that goes wide would be rated as zero.
Interestingly, Liverpool have conceded a PSxG of 19.1 in the league this season, but they have actually conceded 24 goals.
This difference of -4.9 goals is the second-worst in the entire league. In fact, only Wolves have conceded more compared to their PSxG.
In essence, that means Liverpool’s opponents are generally getting too much time to shoot and aren’t being put under enough pressure.
Whether that be down to individual errors – and yes, the argument that Slot should have dropped some players is valid – a lack of energy or tactical problems around the box, it needs to change quickly or Liverpool risk being marooned in midtable.
FotMob is an essential app for every fan to keep up to date with their team or follow football worldwide, their incredible new features provide all you could ever want and information you never knew you needed! You can download the FotMob App here.