When you think back over Liverpool’s worst performances in this trying campaign, your mind inevitably focusses on issues in the midfield and terrible defensive mistakes. The attack hasn’t been so much of an issue, with the Reds second in the Premier League for Opta-defined clear-cut chances and third for expected goals.
But they have inevitably had some dry days up front, same as all teams. The worst of them (per FBRef) occurred last weekend in the goalless draw at Crystal Palace, in which Liverpool generated just 0.9 xG.
While that was the lowest the Reds have mustered, there have so far been 10 matches in league and Europe in which they had no more than 1.5 expected goals. If you review the team sheets for those games, one player’s name – or general lack of it – stands out a mile.
