Liverpool must sacrifice control in games in order to fix their creativity problems, Andoni Iraola has demanded ahead of their weekend trip to Crystal Palace, live on Sky Sports. The Reds have created the second-fewest big chances in the Premier League this season and scored only four goals in five home games, their joint-fewest at this stage of a season in their history.
They set an unwanted record against Arsenal last weekend, failing to register a shot on target in a home Premier League game for the first time in more than 440 games since Opta records began in 2003. Iraola arrived at Anfield last summer with a reputation for front-foot, direct football but has had difficulties imposing his philosophy on his new players.
He now wants them to take more risks to turn their domination into clear-cut opportunities. "In possession we can have good positions, but sometimes we have to throw numbers inside the box, arrive with more players," he said. "It will take a little bit of control away, but it will give us more threat when we arrive."
Liverpool's 1.05x G in Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal would have been significantly boosted had they been awarded a clear penalty for a shirt pull by Jurrien Timber on Alexander Isak. Iraola admitted he felt a spot kick would have been awarded had Isak gone to ground, and feels his side can be "too honest". "We are an honest group. Too honest, sometimes," he said.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing