Liverpool’s recent defeat against Everton highlighted the team’s recurring problem of wastefulness in front of goal. Despite creating over two expected goals (xG), nearly double that of Everton, the Reds failed to convert their chances and lost the Merseyside Derby 2-0. This defeat was largely attributed to poor defending at set-pieces and being caught off guard by Everton’s early goal.
The issue of finishing has been a consistent theme for Liverpool in the latter part of the season. Supporters have been left frustrated by the team’s inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities, and it seems that the pressure is starting to affect the forwards. Journalist Andrew Beasley’s statistics reveal that Liverpool’s performance when behind in games falls below average, while they remain relatively standard when drawing or winning.
According to Opta, non-penalty big chances are converted 39 percent of the time on average. However, Liverpool has struggled to convert these opportunities when they are losing. Out of 23 big chances this season, they have only managed to score three, equating to a conversion rate of 13 percent. This trend does not continue when Liverpool is drawing or leading, as their conversion rates improve to 39.1 percent and 40.8 percent respectively.
These statistics indicate that Liverpool’s struggles in front of goal are more pronounced when they are trailing in matches. This is a concerning trend for a team that has conceded the first goal 15 times in the league this season. In fact, since Jurgen Klopp announced his departure, Liverpool has the third lowest shot conversion rate in the division, according to journalist Duncan Alexander.
Klopp himself has acknowledged the impact of missed opportunities on the team’s performances. He specifically referenced the loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup, where Liverpool squandered numerous chances and were ultimately knocked out. Klopp stated, “It’s long ago but I blame a little bit the [Man] United game for it. [Having] that many chances and you play really good but you don’t get anything for it. That’s really bad. Since then, we create but we don’t score often enough and that doesn’t help.”
While it is uncertain whether the pressure to give Klopp a memorable farewell has affected the players, it is clear that strikers who fail to score when given the opportunity may not be favored under the new manager. The team’s wastefulness in front of goal has become a pressing issue that needs to be addressed if Liverpool wants to finish the season strongly and give Klopp a fitting send-off.