Missed Chances
Arne Slot has repeatedly highlighted Liverpool’s lack of clinical finishing in the final third throughout the season, and after his side generated 1.92 Expected Goals (xG) against the European champions at Anfield without scoring, it was again a key talking point post-match.
“Unfortunately, it’s one of the many examples this season where we haven’t been able to score from the number of chances we create,” he said. “We have consistently underperformed our xG, and that has been a recurring issue for us all season.”
That trend is especially evident in the Champions League. Liverpool entered Tuesday’s fixture having scored 24 goals from 27.8 xG — the worst underperformance among the quarter-finalists.
However, the picture in the Premier League is less severe. Liverpool’s goals total sits only marginally below their xG figure by 0.65. While that is not as strong as teams like Arsenal (+7) or Manchester City (+5.45), nine Premier League sides currently have a worse differential.
Where Liverpool’s inefficiency becomes more visible is in “big chances.” The team has missed 59 of 86 clear-cut opportunities in the league this season, a figure surpassed only by Aston Villa in terms of poor conversion rate.
Individually, players such as Curtis Jones, Florian Wirtz, and Alexis Mac Allister have all underperformed relative to their expected goals. Mohamed Salah’s 11 misses from 14 big chances, alongside Virgil van Dijk converting just one of eight, have also proven costly.
Injuries
Liverpool’s attacking plan for the season was built around a high-profile trio of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike following a combined £320m investment.
However, injuries have repeatedly disrupted that vision. Isak, who was expected to deliver a major goal return after his £125m move from Newcastle, has spent much of the season sidelined, including a spell out with a broken leg. Tuesday’s match marked one of his first starts after returning to fitness.
Ekitike’s injury against Paris Saint-Germain further compounded Liverpool’s frustration, with Slot noting how rarely the intended attacking trio has featured together.
“For 88 minutes before tonight we have played with Florian, Alex, and Hugo together,” he said. “We added about 27 minutes more, and I would be surprised if we get much more time with them this season.”
He added: “Losing a game is difficult, but losing players has been a recurring theme for us this season.”
Liverpool have also been affected by injuries to key players including goalkeeper Alisson (hamstring issues), Conor Bradley (knee surgery), Giovanni Leoni (ACL injury), as well as absences for Jeremie Frimpong, Wataru Endo, and Joe Gomez at various points.
Match Officials
Slot has also expressed ongoing frustration with officiating decisions this season, arguing that key calls have frequently gone against his side.
A controversial moment in Tuesday’s match saw a penalty initially awarded to Alexis Mac Allister overturned following a VAR review, adding to Liverpool’s sense of frustration on a difficult night.
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