Liverpool’s 2023/24 season showed promise, but ultimately fell short of greatness in the final months. As new manager Arne Slot takes charge, there are several areas for improvement that the team can focus on. By analyzing key statistics, Liverpool can identify areas where they can get better and strive to become a more formidable force in the Premier League.
Challenges lost: One of the traits Liverpool became known for under Jurgen Klopp was their ability to win the ball back quickly and high up the pitch. However, last season, they lost more challenges than any other Premier League team. This is an area where improvement is crucial for Slot’s tactics to work effectively. In comparison, Manchester City and Arsenal made the least unsuccessful challenges, with 236 and 272 respectively. It’s interesting to note that while Liverpool struggled in challenges, they excelled in successful tackles and passes blocked, ranking fourth and first in the league, respectively. This indicates a slightly different approach to pressing and defending compared to Man City.
Chances went begging: Despite scoring 86 goals, the third-most in the league, Liverpool’s performance in front of goal was lackluster. They had the highest number of expected goals throughout the season, indicating that they should have scored more. However, they were less efficient at converting their chances compared to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. This is evident from the fact that City ended up scoring 96 goals compared to Liverpool’s 86. Additionally, Liverpool ranked 15th for goals per shot, while both Arsenal and Man City ranked in the top six. This highlights the need for Liverpool to be more clinical in front of goal if they want to compete at the highest level.
Offside, again: Liverpool’s attackers, particularly Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, were caught offside frequently last season. The team as a whole was caught offside 100 times, more than any other team in the Premier League. Nunez was flagged offside 33 times, the highest among all players, while Diaz was called offside 20 times. While it’s not always the attacker’s fault, this recurring issue needs to be addressed to avoid unnecessary disruptions to Liverpool’s attacking play.
Stop going behind: A strong defense is crucial for any top team. Although Liverpool’s defensive performance in the 2023/24 campaign wasn’t terrible, they were caught off guard too often, especially in the early stages of games. The team trailed in 18 Premier League matches, although they showed resilience by earning 28 points from losing positions, the most among all teams. However, relying on comebacks is not a sustainable practice. Liverpool managed 10 clean sheets last season, while both Man City and Arsenal managed more (13 and 18 respectively). Even Everton kept 13 clean sheets, three more than Liverpool. Strengthening the defense and avoiding early concessions will be vital for Liverpool’s success.
Defending crosses: While not an obvious weakness, Slot may want to consider improving Liverpool’s ability to defend crosses. Last season, only 4.8 percent of all crosses faced by Liverpool were successfully stopped by their goalkeeper, the third-lowest percentage in the league. In contrast, Arsenal had the highest percentage, with their goalkeeper stopping 12.8 percent of all crosses faced. However, it’s important to note that Liverpool’s defensive approach to crosses differed from Arsenal’s. With Virgil van Dijk leading the defense, Liverpool focused on utilizing their defensive height to clear the ball rather than relying on their goalkeeper. In fact, Liverpool won a higher percentage of aerial duels (56.9 percent) than any other team, while Arsenal ranked 11th. This highlights the different defensive strategies employed by the two teams.
How’s your touch? Liverpool’s players are known for their technical brilliance, but there were instances last season where they seemed to lose their touch. In comparison, Manchester City demonstrated exceptional control, miscontrolling the ball 133 times fewer than Liverpool across their 38 league games. Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota were the worst culprits for Liverpool, miscontrolling the ball 3.68 and 3.31 times per 90 minutes, respectively. Improving their ball control will be essential for Liverpool to maintain fluidity and avoid unnecessary turnovers.
As Arne Slot takes charge of Liverpool, he will have plenty to work on to elevate the team’s performance. By addressing these key areas of improvement identified through statistics, Liverpool can aim to become a more well-rounded and formidable side in the upcoming season.