Share this @internewscast.com
If Liverpool are to miss out on the Premier League title this season, then it could be blamed on their misery in front of goal against their top-six rivals.
The Reds had 28 shots on goal at Manchester United on Sunday – the highest number the Red Devils have faced at Old Trafford on record – after previously having 34 attempts when the two sides played at Anfield in December.
Yet despite having a massive 62 chances across the two matches, they only netted two goals, as Sunday’s 2-2 draw followed their goalless clash at Anfield.
In those eight games they have taken eight points, compared to Man City who have 13 from nine games against top-six opponents and Arsenal’s 12 from seven. It is those games that could cost Jurgen Klopp a swansong title.
Liverpool failed to make their chances count against Manchester United for the second time in the Premier League this season, as Sunday’s 2-2 draw followed a goalless clash at Anfield
Jurgen Klopp’s side are getting more shots than Man City or Arsenal when it comes to games against the top-six sides, yet are scoring fewer goals
Liverpool had 62 chances alone against Man United this season, only netting twice in the two league games
On Sunday, the likes of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai all squandered chances which could have kept the Reds at the top of the standings – rather than behind Arsenal on goal difference.
Klopp refused to be critical of his side’s attackers, insisting they were the reason that they have 71 points this season.
Yet, a harsher judgement could argue that it’s the same players as to why the Reds only have 71 points and not more.
Their two games against Manchester United should have seen them take an extra four point by converting two draws into victories, while they also failed to make their chances count in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City last month.
Against City, the Reds had 19 efforts on goal compared to City’s 10, and a victory against the reigning champions would have been a huge step to Klopp potentially picking up his second title as Liverpool manager.
Liverpool’s attack has been on song when it comes to playing sides outside of the top six, averaging 2.7 goals per game, with an average of 21.2 shots.
There is a significant drop-off though when it comes to matches against top-six opposition.
Their average of 17.6 shots-per-game is still impressive, but across those eight matches they are only scoring at a rate of 1.25.
The likes of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz (pictured) have all squandered big chances against top-six sides
Liverpool have been held to draws by both Manchester clubs and Arsenal at home this season
That compares to Arsenal and Manchester City who have an inferior shot rate against top-six sides, but have a superior goal advantage.
Both sides are netting 1.7 goals-per-game against top-six sides, with Arsenal doing this a lower average of shots with 12.6 compared to City’s 14.9.
Despite their impressive goal-rate against sides outside the top-six, there is still an argument they could be better.
The Reds are scoring 2.7 goals from 21.1 shots, compared to Arsenal’s 2.7 from 17.9 and City’s 2.5 from 19.3.
Across the entire season, Klopp’s side lead the Premier League in terms of total shots with a total of 629, compared to Man City’s 559 and Arsenal’s 517.
Liverpool also have more ‘big chances’ missed than any team with 62, though this is just ahead of City on 60, though Arsenal are ninth in this ranking on 47.
No side has hit the woodwork more than Liverpool’s 20, with Nunez doing so nine times this season – more than double the next highest player.
Nunez also leads the league in terms of shots this season with 100, three more than Man City’s Erling Haaland. Mohamed Salah is third with 91 shots and Luis Diaz is tenth with 80.
Arsenal are scoring at the highest rate despite averaging fewer shots than their rivals
Man City have the lowest drop-off in terms of goals against top-six sides compared to games against the rest of the Premier League
With seven games left, Arsenal are ahead of Liverpool on goal difference with their +51 nine ahead of the Reds’ +42, while Manchester City are one point behind in third.
Perhaps worryingly for the Reds, they still have two games to come against top-six sides.
However, these come away at Aston Villa where they did make their chances count in September, and Tottenham where they were unlucky to walk away without a point after Diaz’s controversial disallowed goal.
Meanwhile, it has also been revealed that despite scoring 72 goals this season, the Reds have a 8.3 per cent conversion rate – putting them in the bottom half for chances converted in the league.
Sitting in the places above them are Sheffield United, with an 8.4% conversion rate, and Luton, with an 8.9% conversion rate.
Liverpool’s title rivals Arsenal and Man City sit above them, with the Gunners boasting the third best conversion rate in the league – 11.2%. This is behind Newcastle and Aston Villa.
Man City’s conversion rate is 10.2%, still a lot higher than Liverpool’s as they head into the business end of the season.
