An examination of Arne Slot's reasoning for Liverpool's struggles this season reveals a mix of missed chances, injuries, and VAR controversies. Following Liverpool's Champions League exit to Paris St-Germain, Slot expressed frustration over his team's inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities, citing a lack of clinical edge in the final third. The Reds had 1.92 Expected Goals but failed to score against the European champions, a trend that has persisted throughout the season.
Liverpool's xG conversion rate in the Champions League has been underwhelming, with the team scoring 24 goals from 27.8xG, the largest underperformance among quarter-finalists. However, their Premier League performance tells a slightly different story, with the team's goals total only 0.65 below their xG total.
The issue of missed big chances is more glaring, with Liverpool having the second-worst conversion rate of Opta-defined big chances in the Premier League. The team has missed 59 of 86 clear-cut openings, with players like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk struggling to convert their chances. Injuries have also taken a toll, with Alexander Isak's £125m signing from Newcastle hindered by a broken leg and other players like Curtis Jones, Florian Wirtz, and Alexis Mac Allister underperforming their individual xG totals.
Slot's plan to field a new-look £320m attack featuring Isak, Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike has been disrupted by injuries, with the trio having played only 115 minutes together. The Dutchman has also been critical of VAR decisions, citing several instances where the officials' interventions have gone against his team.
With Liverpool facing a trophyless season and pressure mounting to secure a top-five finish, Slot remains optimistic about the team's future, pointing to the quality of young players like Ryan Gravenberch, Ekitike, Wirtz, and Milos Kerkez. The team's ability to compete with European champions and the potential of 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha offer a glimpse of a bright future, but Slot needs results in the final six games to capitalize on that potential and secure a Champions League spot for next season.