Liverpool's Attack in Trouble: Wirtz and Co. Struggle Against Stubborn Defences
Arsenal deserves credit for successfully limiting Liverpool's chances at Anfield, but Andoni Iraola's squad must learn to dismantle compact defensive setups.
In a disappointing 1-0 loss to Arsenal, Liverpool didn't manage a single shot on target, marking a historic low for the club at Anfield since the Premier League began in 2003-04. Earlier this year, they also failed to hit the target in a goalless draw at the Emirates, although they did find the woodwork in both matches. These statistics often tell a tale of narrow margins.
One has to wonder: if Alexis Mac Allister's long-range effort had counted as a shot, might it have sparked a more potent attacking display from Iraola's men? The troubling aspect for the manager is that while his team had 52 touches in Arsenal's penalty area, they only managed to create one big chance, a far cry from the Premier League average of 10.3 box touches per big chance.
Arsenal excelled at stifling the quality of Liverpool's opportunities, even as they frequently pushed forward. In fact, while 12 teams in the league have fewer penalty box touches than Liverpool, only Coventry has generated fewer big chances. To put it in perspective, Everton's Thierno Barry alone has created 15 big chances this season, while Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has 14.
Conversely, Liverpool's European campaign tells a different story. They have already notched 12 big chances in just three Champions League matches, aided by opponents like Lask and Villarreal, who are rated lower than any Premier League team. The Champions League also tends to produce more open games, contrasting sharply with their league encounters.
So far this season in the Premier League, Liverpool has faced more low defensive blocks than any other club. A big part of this challenge is self-inflicted, as they have fallen behind in five of their eight matches. They've only managed to maintain two-goal leads against Ipswich and Brighton, giving opponents little incentive to ease their defensive efforts.
In his inaugural press conference, Iraola addressed the challenge of breaking down teams that sit deep. He stated, "I prefer to face low blocks because it allows us to control the game, reduce chances against us, and spend more time in the opponent's half." Despite their dominance in possession and final-third passes—only four teams have more touches in the opposition's half—Liverpool has struggled to convert that control into meaningful scoring opportunities.
Florian Wirtz was expected to shine in these situations, given his ability to unlock tight defences. However, he has yet to create a big chance in the league this season. While his five big chances last season could be attributed to Liverpool's struggles, Wirtz is far behind teammates Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah, and Cody Gakpo in this crucial metric. His contributions seem more focused on ball retention and circulation rather than cutting through defences.
Iraola will be urging his side to maximize their high pressing game. Most of Liverpool's big chances have arisen from corners or open play crosses, with Bradley Barcola showing promise by capitalizing on defensive mistakes. Yet, Liverpool has only produced shots from 16.7% of their ball recoveries in the final third, which is below the league average of 18.4%—placing them among the worst in the Premier League.
Big chances are crucial, accounting for 18.1% of all shots but an impressive 59.5% of goals this season. As Liverpool embarks on Iraola's first campaign, their aspirations will be severely hampered unless they can start creating those critical scoring opportunities with greater frequency.
