Following Liverpool's Champions League elimination by Paris St-Germain, we examine the validity of Arne Slot's post-match comments regarding his team's struggles this season. Slot has consistently expressed concerns about Liverpool's inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities, citing a lack of clinical edge in the final third.
This issue was evident in their match against PSG, where they recorded 1.92 Expected Goals but failed to score. The Dutch manager noted, 'Unfortunately, it's one of the many examples of this season where we weren't able to score from the many chances we had.' Liverpool's underperformance in terms of xG is a recurring theme, particularly in the Champions League, where they have scored 24 goals from 27.8xG, the largest underperformance among quarter-finalists. However, their xG conversion rate in the Premier League is less damning, with their goals total only 0.65 below their xG total.
The team's inability to convert big chances has been a significant issue, with Liverpool missing 59 of 86 clear-cut openings in the top flight. Players like Curtis Jones, Florian Wirtz, and Alexis Mac Allister have underperformed their individual xG totals, while Mohamed Salah has missed 11 of 14 big chances and Virgil van Dijk has converted just one of his eight clear-cut openings. The team's injury woes, including Alexander Isak's broken leg and Hugo Ekitike's worrying injury against PSG, have further exacerbated the problem. Slot has also expressed frustration with the frequency of decisions made by officials going against his side, including the overturning of a penalty awarded to Mac Allister on Tuesday.
Despite these challenges, Slot remains optimistic about the team's future, citing the quality of young players like Ryan Gravenberch, Ekitike, Wirtz, and Milos Kerkez. With six games remaining in the Premier League campaign, Slot and Liverpool need to secure a top-five finish to ensure Champions League qualification for next season.