http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/live...ool-fc-s-problem-this-season-100252-30287183/ ITâS a statistic that tells you everything you need to know about why Liverpool FC are not in the top four. Liverpool FC have the worst conversion rate of chances in the Premier League. Manchester United are top, taking 20.21% of their chances, while weâre bottom on just 8.92%. Even the likes of Wolves, QPR and Wigan have a better conversion rate. All season weâve been harping on about missed chances and against Tottenham it cost us again. The frustrating thing is that Spurs were there for the taking with their injuries and the manager not there. We failed to make the most of a good situation and werenât as creative as we normally are. Skrtel was excellent and we looked very solid as a defensive unit. Spurs were strong defensively with Parker and Modric great in midfield but when we did create chances we snatched at them. Too often at home this season weâve let teams off the hook. One of the problems is that we donât have a natural goalscorer in the side. We have consistently struggled to put the ball away. It was a game we needed to win and weâve put pressure on ourselves by failing to beat Spurs. We need to win all our home games between now and the end of the season to get fourth. To achieve that we need to be more flamboyant and the likes of Carroll, Suarez, Gerrard, Bellamy and then Downing or Kuyt all need to start at home. We need to take more risks.
I totally agree Luv and I think that stat just confirms what we all already know. For me I'd be quite happy to see Downing nowhere near the team until he's learned (or remembered) how to put a decent ball into the box and hit the target more regularly. I honestly can't see how some of the younger players would have done any worse than him this season I know reserve/youth team football is a different kettle of fish etc but after the bad home performances against Stoke, Blackburn etc I thought that was the time to start looking at a few other options and like most of us I felt we should have tried to bring in one or two players in Jan (not necessarily big names) just to give the likes of Downing, Carroll and Adam etc a wake up call. Might just have made the difference on Monday night having someone like Sterling come on late on instead of Downing.
'We need to take more risks'. I like that statement. The defence has been solid, so let the rest just attack. He says by playing the whole attack team of Suarez, Carroll, Kuyt, Bellamy and Gerrard at once, but I'd like to add, player some youngsters, mainly Shelvey.
I like Aldo as much as the next Liverpool fan, but this is a non-story. May as well have been titled: - Pope a Catholic; Ursine crapping arrangements revealed... We know we've got the league's worst conversion rate. We've also got one of the best chances to games ratio, if not the best. Urging the players to 'Attack, attack, attack' won't improve finishing, and it might damage the balance of the team on the pitch. What we need is someone to educate the players in the art of finishing. Perhaps John will offer his experience on the matter? More likely, he'll stick to offering us such blinding insight as this...
We couldn't even take a weakened Blackburn team at Anfield...can't see us winning on Saturday as it is not a Cup game.
The problem for me gonz and before I start, I do have faith it is United and I want to kick their **** into next week, but how many times are we going to say that this season? In terms of the league it feels like we repeat ourselves, good result, draw at home, tough away game repeat. September, goals will come, Novemeber, goals will come, January goals will come, Febraury....... goals will come still? Just wish we had made at least that move, a goalscorer, but I do understand if the price isn't right or what was out there we would rather wait until the summer for. But with 4th so damn close it can get frustrating, as it has for all. All I know, is that at 7:45 AM I will be in full 2005 CL kit and losing my nut over the game!
We've played well in the big games though so hopefully that will continue. I predict a win and then a draw at home to Brighton.
That has been the one constant bar Tottenham away so hopefully you are right! It will be an interesting game. It is on ESPN here so I will have the great macca commentating and he loves to have a sly dig at united now and again.
This is true, teams simply can't "park the bus" at home without pissing off their fans, they have to leave openings, and we are just about good enough to convert one or two, the problem is when teams do park the bus at Anfield, and we just don't have the ideas to break them down.
I have to disagree - we break teams down. The 'shots on target' figure shows we make good chances. What we are not doing is actually hitting the back of the net. The only problem is finishing. We need more clinical behaviour in front of goal. The players should be putting the ball beyond the reach of the keeper, not putting it in at a comfortable height or straight at the keeper. They need to practice their bloody finishing!!!! Fowler would have stuck away 20+ already this season in his prime. We've never been so good in terms of creating opportunities since we last won the league. The only thing missing is that we can't score the bloody goals...
St john is certinly onto something. The chances i am seeing a lot of the time are either snatched at or long range and to be honest i'd call them half chances. we don't make many ironed on easy chances for forwards. thats what i think. I think we need to get forward more, stop the turn back inside and play safe mentality and play more direct, ie running with pace at defenses not long ball. I do think suarez and carroll have lousy conversion rates and the stats don't lie..... there is something also in that, they have bee guilt of missing and so has the hero bellamy. I think they can all do better in fornt of goal but can't bear all the blame when the likes of kuyt and downing cut in field 50% of the time and blaze shots wide etc... thats not creating. Noble also has a point that away teams park the bus knowing they can get something. we are worse at hme this year and i do think paly too safe at home.... unbeaten and unbowed but loads more draws than wins says it all.
There are a few different aspects that have taken Spurs up there, getting Parker was more important and keeping hold of Modric too. To be honest though - they just take their chances and win the games they should win. Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool have been tossing leads away instead and therefore miles behind.