Arne Slot has admitted to feeling "frustration" when asked about Liverpool's expected goals (xG) statistic following the team's 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday.
Liverpool was humiliated at home in the Champions League, and a second-half collapse saw the visitors secure a historic victory at Anfield. Liverpool has now lost nine of the last 12 games, with only one Premier League win since September 20.
Slot is under increasing pressure to turn things around, but statistics show that Liverpool had an xG of 6.59 across their last three games, despite scoring only one goal. Though the statistic could provide hope that Liverpool will soon begin to convert more chances, Slot expressed disappointment.
Asked what he took from the xG stat, he simply replied: "Frustration!". Liverpool has lost 3-0 to Manchester City, 3-0 to Nottingham Forest, and now 4-1 to PSV in the last three games.
While Liverpool was rewarded with one goal from their 6.59 xG, their opponents scored 10 goals despite only having a 5.39 xG. Slot believes that the statistic shouldn't always be taken at face value.
"xG doesn't always tell you the right story," Slot added. "So when do you get those chances? You are always more open when you concede, against Villa and Real Madrid we hardly conceded chances but when we are chasing games we concede chances.
Liverpool has scored just one goal in the past three games
Liverpool has scored just one goal in the past three games (Image: 2025 DeFodi Images)
"We don't reward ourselves for good phases of the games, and that is best shown in xG created, which is ridiculous. xG, I didn't need it to know we missed a lot of chances."
It's been a bizarre campaign for Liverpool, who initially started flawlessly, winning the first seven games in all competitions. However, the victories were far from convincing, as defensive fragilities were on display, only to be bailed out by the forwards.
However, the goals have since dried up for Liverpool, but the team remains exposed at the back. The crisis is only heightened by the $288 million net spend this summer, as Liverpool acquired stars Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, and Jeremie Frimpong.
Hugo Ekitike suffered an injury during the 4-1 defeat to PSV
Hugo Ekitike suffered an injury during the 4-1 defeat to PSV (Image: 2025 Molly Darlington/Copa)
Wirtz has two assists in the Champions League but has yet to produce an attacking return in the Premier League. Isak has also had a slow start, and both players are currently sidelined due to injury.
Frimpong is also injured, joining Conor Bradley in the treatment room, which forced Slot to start midfielder Curtis Jones at right-back on Wednesday. Kerkez has also failed to impress, leaving Ekitike as the one positive spark.
Ekitike was forced off against PSV due to an injury, but Slot confirmed that it shouldn't be a long-term issue, although he is a doubt for Saturday's game against West Ham. It feels like a must-win for Liverpool, but Slot is aware that West Ham has progressed under head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.
"Nuno is having an impact on results. He has done so well in England, at Forest, West Ham again, so he is proving to be a difficult manager to play against," Slot said. 'Tough to beat West Ham now, that is why we definitely need to be ready for a challenge. It's different for them to play against us now than 3/4 months ago."