Liverpool Set Unwanted Record With Zero Shots On Target Against Arsenal At Anfield
Liverpool failed to register a shot on target against Arsenal, setting a 442-game record. Analysis reveals a severe lack of high-quality chances and creativity.
Liverpool set an unwanted Premier League record at Anfield on Sunday, failing to register a single shot on target against Arsenal for the first time in 442 home games. Opta confirmed the ignominious statistic after initially crediting Ronald Araujo and Alexis Mac Allister with shots on target, only to later rule them as a blocked shot and an overhit pass.
The 1-0 defeat highlighted a persistent lack of creativity, with Liverpool’s 17 shots worth a meagre 1.05 expected goals. Although the Reds have taken the fifth-most shots in the division this season, they rank ninth for goals scored and 11th for expected goals, revealing a significant disparity in chance quality.
Shot location data explains the issue, as Liverpool have the fourth-highest percentage of shots from outside the box at 39 per cent. By contrast, their proportion of shots from inside the six-yard box is the sixth-lowest in the league at eight per cent, behind leaders Arsenal and Manchester City.
Manager Andoni Iraola’s side have created only seven big chances in nine games, placing them second bottom in the Premier League. This struggle is compounded by conceding the opening goal in five matches, forcing opponents into low blocks and limiting Liverpool’s ability to generate high-quality opportunities.
Florian Wirtz typifies the quantity-versus-quality problem, ranking second in the league for chances created with 22 but yet to produce a single Opta-defined big chance. Despite spending nearly £500m on their attack in the last two years, Liverpool’s creative output remains a critical concern for the club.
Eli Nathan
Eli Nathan covers Wales news, politics, community stories, and sports for The National Wales (thenational.wales).
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