Liverpool creativity crisis — Liverpool’s creativity crisis reached a new low against Arsenal, as the Reds failed to register a single shot on target in a Premier League home game for the first time since records began in 2003. The blank came despite 17 attempts, but those shots were worth just 1.05 expected goals, laying bare a problem that goes far beyond wayward finishing.
Shot selection under scrutiny
Only four sides have taken a higher share of their shots from outside the box than Liverpool this season. The Reds have launched 39 per cent of their efforts from distance, a figure bettered only by Manchester United, Hull and Newcastle – all of whom sit in the bottom half of the table. At the other end of the scale, just eight per cent of Liverpool’s shots have come from inside the six-yard box, the sixth-lowest proportion in the division. The league’s two most potent attacks, Arsenal and Manchester City, lead the way in that metric, with 17 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.
Dominik Szoboszlai epitomises the issue. Among players to have attempted at least five shots this season, the Hungarian has the highest percentage from outside the box at 93 per cent. Of his 14 attempts, the only one from inside the area was his converted penalty against Newcastle on the opening day. He has not scored in the league since.
Wirtz’s creativity conundrum
Florian Wirtz’s statistical profile further illustrates the quantity-over-quality problem. The playmaker ranks second in the Premier League for chances created with 22, yet he has not created a single Opta-defined big chance. Pascal Gross, the only player above him with 24 chances created, has carved out seven big chances. Wirtz also sits 37th for expected assists at 1.08, underlining the limited value of the opportunities he has fashioned. For a player signed at considerable expense to be Liverpool’s creative hub, those numbers are a concern.
As a team, Liverpool have created just seven big chances in nine league games – the second-lowest tally in the division, ahead of only Coventry. That is a remarkable return given the near-£500m invested in the attack over the past two years. The lack of high-quality openings has forced players to shoot from range, resulting in an average of 0.09 expected goals per shot, one of the poorest rates in the league.
Game state and low blocks compound the problem
Liverpool have conceded first in five of their nine Premier League matches this season, and only five sides have spent a higher proportion of time trailing. That pattern has allowed opponents to sit deep in compact blocks, making it harder for Andoni Iraola’s side to find space in dangerous areas. The Reds have spent 27 per cent of their time in possession building up against low blocks – the highest share in the league. When teams defend with numbers behind the ball, the space between the posts shrinks, and Liverpool’s transition-oriented approach becomes easier to contain.
The Arsenal defeat was the latest example: Kai Havertz’s 17th-minute opener forced Liverpool to chase the game against a disciplined defensive unit. Their 30 first-half touches in the opposition box were a Premier League record, but most of that pressure came from speculative crosses and long-range efforts rather than clear-cut chances.
Isak papering over the cracks
Alexander Isak has helped mask some of the underlying issues by overperforming in front of goal. The forward has scored six Premier League goals from shots worth 4.35 expected goals, demonstrating an ability to convert difficult chances. But relying on such finishing is not a sustainable strategy. Iraola needs to find a way to generate better quality opportunities, starting with getting the ball to his forwards in more dangerous positions.
Starting stronger could also help. Liverpool have won only one of the five games in which they have conceded first, compared to all three in which they have opened the scoring. Forcing opponents to come out and leave gaps would ease the creative burden. Without a swift solution, the unwanted records may keep piling up.
