Liverpool have scored only nine goals in seven Premier League matches, while scoring 15 goals in four Champions League and League Cup matches. Coach Andoni Iraola gave his opinion on the difference ahead of the clash with Brighton.
Sports: Six goals in the Champions League, then four goals and a total of nine goals in seven matches in the Premier League. Liverpool’s statistics this season are surprising. Coach Andoni Iraola’s team is consistently scoring goals in European competitions, but its attack is not looking the same in England’s domestic league. On Sunday, October 25, Liverpool will face Brighton, who have scored 23 goals in seven league matches. The match will take place at Anfield, Liverpool’s home ground, where the team is looking for its first Premier League win of the season. In such a situation, the question is arising that despite having good forwards and midfielders, why is Liverpool able to score so few goals in the league?
Only nine goals in seven matches, different story in Champions League
Liverpool have registered three wins in the first seven matches of the Premier League 2026-27. Three matches were drawn and one was lost. The team is in fifth place with 12 points. During this period he scored nine goals and conceded eight goals. That means an average of only 1.29 goals in every league match.
When the same team entered the Champions League and Carabao Cup, the results were completely different. Liverpool scored 15 goals in three Champions League matches and a League Cup tie against Tottenham. The average of these four matches is 3.75 goals per match.
Due to such a huge difference in these figures, discussion has started on the coach’s strategy and the performance of the forward players. However, the season is still in its early stages, so it is too early to assess the entire campaign on the basis of seven matches.
Liverpool scored four goals despite lagging behind Villarreal
On Tuesday, Liverpool defeated Villarreal 4-3 in the Champions League. The start of the match played at Anfield was bad for him. The Spanish team had scored two goals in the first half hour.
But Liverpool equalized before half time. Alexis McAllister and Ronald Arauho scored the goals. Mac Allister scored another goal in the second half, while Florian Wirtz scored the fourth.
Earlier, Liverpool had scored six goals against LASK in Austria. In these matches the team attacked openly. The forward players got space to run and chances to score goals were also created from midfield.
It is becoming difficult to get this place in the Premier League. Opposing teams have appeared to play more cautiously against Liverpool.
Even coach Iraola could not explain the reason for less goals.
After the win against Villarreal, Andoni Iraola was asked why his team was scoring so many goals in Europe but was lagging behind in the Premier League.
Iraola admitted that he did not have any clear reason for this difference. He said that the match against LASK was different, but Liverpool’s attack was good even against strong teams like Atletico Madrid and Villarreal.
According to the coach, this is not just related to competition. The team playing in front and its strategy also matter a lot. In the Premier League, the way opposing clubs prepare their defense changes the chances of scoring a goal.
Iraola believes that his team has been better defensively in the league, but is not able to perform at the same level in attack.
Difficult to break teams standing behind in defense
A major problem facing Liverpool has been the ‘low block’ strategy of the opposing teams. In this, the defenders stay around their goalpost and do not leave much empty space in the middle of the field.
According to available match data, Liverpool have faced such a defensive arrangement approximately 28 percent of the time in the league. This is the highest compared to other Premier League teams. On the other hand, it has faced the high-pressing defensive setup of opposing teams only 15 percent of the time.
This has a direct impact on attack. Despite the ball being in Liverpool’s possession, it is not easy to find a way to reach the box. In such a situation, forward players get less space and less time to score goals.
Iraola has previously said that he likes to play against teams that defend from the back, as this allows his team to spend more time in the opposition half. But now they have to find a way to score goals in this situation.
Eating the first round increases the problem
Another weakness of Liverpool came to light at the beginning of the match. Four times in seven league matches, the opposing team scored the first goal against them. Due to this, Liverpool had to work harder to get the equaliser.
After taking the lead, the opposing clubs can further strengthen their defence. In such a situation, Liverpool needs to continuously pass the ball forward and create chances.
If we look at the defensive statistics, the team did not concede any goals three times in seven matches. A total of eight goals have been scored against him. On the contrary, he also conceded eight goals in four matches of Champions League and League Cup.
It is clear that along with scoring more goals in European matches, Liverpool also had to bear the risk of conceding more goals. Its defensive position was somewhat better in the league, but its attack was not that effective.
Which players have the responsibility after Salah’s departure?
There has been a change in Liverpool’s attack following the departure of Mohamed Salah. However, it would not be correct to say that the team is left with no goalscorers. In the current season, ten different players have scored goals across all competitions.
Alexander Isak has scored five goals in the Premier League. That means, out of the team’s nine league goals, five are in his name. Isaac has definitely provided relief with his form, but regular goals are needed from the other players as well.
Florian Wirtz has created the most chances in the league with 20, 18 of which came from open play. Despite this, he has not been able to score a goal in the league yet. He scored his first goal of the season against Villarreal.
Cody Gakpo, Bradley Barcola, Victor Munoz and youngster Rio Ngumoha also provide options in attack. The team has the players, but the opportunities to convert them into goals in the league are not providing enough success right now.
Lack of finishing is visible in the figures
Liverpool’s Expected Goals (xG) figure is 10.9. This means that depending on the quality of chances created the team could have expected to score around 11 goals. The real number is nine.
The difference of about two goals is not very big, but in low-scoring matches this difference can become the reason for losing points.
Players like Wirtz are creating chances and Isak is also scoring goals. Therefore, the problem is not only about creating chances, but also about arriving in the box at the right time and converting the opportunities received into goals.
Still no domestic league win at Anfield
Liverpool could not make a good start even at their home ground Anfield. They have had two draws and one defeat in their first three home Premier League matches this season.
Adding last season’s matches, the team has not been able to win five consecutive home league matches. This record on such a ground is a matter of concern for Liverpool, which has long been considered a strong team in domestic matches.
Without a win against Brighton on Sunday, Liverpool will remain winless in their first four home league matches. This has only happened three times before in the club’s history.
Brighton’s 23 goals increase Liverpool’s challenge
Brighton is currently the highest goalscoring team in the Premier League. This team, which has scored 23 goals in seven matches, has won its last four league matches. In these four matches he scored 15 goals and did not concede even a single goal.
Brighton head coach Fabian Herzeler’s team is in third place. He is also in the news because of his fast attack and good defensive system.
The challenge for Liverpool will be twofold. He will have to stop Brighton’s goalscoring pace and also end their wait for a win on their home ground.
Brighton are also comfortable playing with the ball. In such a situation, Liverpool may get different opportunities against him from those matches where the opposing team only comes out to defend.
After Brighton there will be a fight with Arsenal
The match between Liverpool and Brighton will be played at Anfield on Sunday, October 25. The match will start at 7:30 pm Indian time.
After Brighton, Liverpool also has to face the current champion Arsenal. Therefore, the next two league matches can prove to be important for Iraola’s team.