Following Liverpool's Champions League elimination by Paris St-Germain, we examine Arne Slot's reasoning for the team's struggles this season, focusing on missed opportunities, injuries, and VAR decisions. Slot expressed disappointment over Liverpool's inability to capitalize on scoring chances, citing the team's underperformance in terms of Expected Goals (xG). The Reds notched 1.92 xG against PSG but failed to score, exemplifying their struggles in the final third.
In the Champions League, Liverpool's xG conversion rate has been the worst among quarter-finalists, scoring 24 goals from 27.8 xG. However, their Premier League performance is less severe, with a goals total only 0.65 below their xG total. The team's inability to convert big chances has been particularly costly, with 59 missed clear-cut openings in the top flight.
Players like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Curtis Jones, Florian Wirtz, and Alexis Mac Allister have underperformed their individual xG totals. Injuries have also hindered the team, with Alexander Isak's £125m signing from Newcastle being disrupted by a broken leg, and other key players like Alisson, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Jeremie Frimpong, Wataru Endo, and Joe Gomez missing game time due to various injuries. Slot has also been critical of VAR decisions, citing several instances where the team has been unfairly treated, including the overturned penalty against PSG.
Despite these challenges, Slot remains optimistic about the team's future, given the quality of young players like Ryan Gravenberch, Ekitike, Wirtz, Bradley, and Milos Kerkez, as well as the potential of 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha. With six games remaining in the Premier League campaign, Slot needs to secure a top-five finish to ensure Champions League qualification and capitalize on the team's potential next season.