Arne Slot’s post‑match press conference following Liverpool’s elimination by Paris Saint‑Germain in the Champions League provides a window into the Dutch manager’s perspective on why his side have struggled this campaign. Throughout the season, Slot has repeatedly highlighted Liverpool’s inability to finish chances, and after a match in which the Reds produced 1.92 expected goals (xG) against the European champions yet failed to find the net at Anfield, his frustration was inevitable. "Unfortunately, it’s one of the many examples this season where we didn’t convert the opportunities we created," Slot said. "We have consistently underperformed in terms of xG, and that has been a theme all season long." The data backs up his claim, at least in the continental competition.
Liverpool entered the Tuesday night tie having scored 24 goals from an expected 27.8 xG – the worst conversion rate among the eight quarter‑finalists. In the Premier League, however, the picture is less stark.
The club’s actual goal tally sits only 0.65 goals below its xG, a gap that, while modest, still lags behind powerhouses such as Arsenal (+7) and Manchester City (+5.45). In fact, nine other English clubs have a larger negative differential than Liverpool, suggesting the problem is not unique to the Reds. What does stand out, and what Slot seemed to be most aggrieved by, are the missed "big chances" – the clear‑cut opportunities that should, in theory, be converted by any top‑level side. Liverpool produced two such chances against PSG, and only Aston Villa has a poorer conversion rate for Opta‑defined big chances in the league.
Overall, Liverpool have squandered 59 of 86 obvious openings in the Premier League, a statistic that underlines a systemic finishing issue. Individual player metrics reinforce the narrative.
Curtis Jones, Florian Wirtz and Alexis Mac Allister have all under‑performed relative to their personal xG. More glaring, perhaps, is Mohamed Salah’s record of missing 11 of 14 big chances, while Virgil van Dijk has turned just one of his eight clear‑cut opportunities into a goal. Those missed chances have directly cost Liverpool points in a tightly contested title race.
Compounding the finishing woes are the injury problems that have plagued the squad. Alexander Isak, signed for a reported £125 million from Newcastle, was expected to deliver a hefty goal haul, but a broken leg in December kept him out for months. Tuesday marked his first start after returning from that lay‑off, and he still has work to do to justify his price tag. The original plan for the season was to blend Isak with fellow summer acquisitions Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike into a £320 million attacking trio.
Ekitike’s injury during the PSG match further disrupted those ambitions, and Slot lamented the lack of time he has had to field all three together. "For 88 minutes before Tuesday we have played with Florian, Alex and Hugo. We added about 27 minutes on Tuesday and I would be surprised if we add many more minutes to that this season," Slot explained. Regarding Ekitike’s setback, he added, "Losing a game is hard but losing a player is something we’ve experienced many times this season." The injury list extends beyond the forwards.
First‑choice goalkeeper Alisson has missed periods with a hamstring issue, Conor Bradley required knee surgery, Giovanni Leoni suffered an ACL rupture, and other key figures such as Jeremie Frimpong, Wataru Endo and Joe Gomez have all endured lengthy absences. These setbacks have forced Slot to rotate his squad heavily, often disrupting cohesion and rhythm. Another recurring complaint from Slot has been the frequency of adverse refereeing decisions. The most recent flashpoint was the VAR overturning a penalty awarded to Mac Allister during the PSG game.
Slot reacted, "...another VAR intervention that didn’t go our way and it’s not the first time this season." He referenced earlier incidents, including a Brentford penalty given after VAR review when Van Dijk appeared to have fouled Dango Ouattara, and a Leeds penalty following a VAR check on a Konaté challenge on Wilfried Gnonto. When asked about the PSG penalty reversal, Slot replied, "If you look at our season, I’m not surprised – so many decisions have gone against us." He did acknowledge a couple of fortunate moments in the first leg in Paris, such as a PSG penalty being cancelled after Konaté’s challenge on Warren Zaire‑Emery and a defender escaping punishment for a push on Nuno Mendes. Yet, the season also featured a Van Dijk header ruled out for off‑side against Manchester City and a Manchester United goal that came while Mac Allister was down with a head injury, further fueling Slot’s frustration with officiating.
Liverpool’s exit from Europe means the club faces a trophy‑less season after winning the Premier League last term. The pressure now shifts to securing a top‑five finish to guarantee a Champions League berth for next year. Sky Sports analyst Tim Sherwood summed it up: "Arne Slot needs to qualify for the Champions League to keep his job." Despite the setbacks, Slot remains cautiously optimistic about the future. He highlighted the youth and potential within the squad: Ryan Gravenberch (23), Hugo Ekitike (23), Florian Wirtz (22), Conor Bradley (22) and Milos Kerkez (22) are all entering their prime years, while 17‑year‑old Rio Ngumoha offers a tantalising glimpse of the next generation.
"The future looks very bright for this team, because we’ve shown we can compete with the champions of Europe in our stadium and be the dominant side," Slot reiterated after the match. The final stretch of the Premier League campaign will be decisive.
Liverpool must convert the talent they have assembled into results over the remaining six fixtures if they hope to return to the Champions League and build on the promise shown this season. The blend of youthful exuberance, strategic signings, and a clearer finishing approach could transform the Reds into a genuine contender once more, provided they navigate injuries, improve conversion rates, and perhaps enjoy a bit more luck with the officials.