Following Liverpool's Champions League exit at the hands of Paris St-Germain, Arne Slot expressed his disappointment, citing missed opportunities, injuries, and VAR decisions as contributing factors. This season, Liverpool have struggled to convert chances into goals, with a significant underperformance in terms of Expected Goals. Despite creating 1.92 Expected Goals against PSG, they failed to score.
Slot 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 xG conversion rate in the Champions League has been particularly poor, with the team scoring 24 goals from 27.8xG. However, their Premier League performance tells a slightly different story, with their goals total being just 0.65 below their xG total.
The team has missed 59 of 86 clear-cut openings in the top flight, with players like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk missing big chances. Injuries have also hindered the team, with Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and other key players missing significant game time.
Slot has also expressed frustration with VAR decisions, citing several instances where the team has been unfairly treated. With Liverpool facing a trophyless season, the pressure is on Slot to secure a top-five finish and a Champions League place for next season.
Despite the challenges, Slot remains optimistic about the team's future, given the quality of young players like Ryan Gravenberch, Ekitike, and Wirtz.