Liverpool set an unwanted record against Arsenal, failing to register a shot on target for the first time in 442 Premier League home games. The ignominious statistic was confirmed by Opta, who initially credited Ronald Araujo and Alexis Mac Allister with shots on target but later ruled them as a blocked shot and overhit pass. Liverpool's finishing was wayward, and they were also incorrectly denied a penalty. But a lack of creativity was the bigger issue, with their 17 shots worth a meagre 1.05 expected goals.
Liverpool's total of 140 shots this season is the fifth-highest among Premier League sides, but they rank much lower for both goals scored and expected goals, in ninth and 11th respectively. Their shot locations help to explain the disparity, with a large chunk of their total taken from long distance. The Reds have the fourth-highest percentage of shots from outside the box in the division at 39 per cent, behind only Manchester United, Hull and Newcastle.
The problem is summed up by Dominik Szoboszlai, who has taken a higher percentage of his shots from outside the box than any other player in the Premier League this season, at 93 per cent. Of his 14 shots, the only one taken from inside the box was the penalty he converted against Newcastle on the opening day. He has not found the net in the competition since.
Liverpool are struggling to get the ball to their forwards in more dangerous positions. Their total of 30 first-half touches in the opposition box against Arsenal was a Premier League record. Mostly, though, they have found it difficult to get it there. Their 250 touches in the box this season put them eighth among Premier League sides. They sit even lower for Opta-defined big chances created, with only seven in nine games, putting them second bottom among Premier League sides.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing