Liverpool’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League football suffered a major setback after their 2-1 loss at Anfield against Arsenal. The Reds dominated everything from possession to shots to corners to chances created but failed to even get on the score sheet. Their only goal was scored by Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny.
If you have been closely monitoring the Merseyside club’s season, the aforementioned statistics make up what has been the story of their season. Not once, twice or even thrice but a dozens of times have they dominated their opponents but failed to capitalize on their chances.
The goalkeepers have been inspired alright pulling off stunning saves from point blank range as manifested by Wojciech Szczesny (hope I got the spelling right) over the weekend. But if there is one thing that may have gotten King Kenny’s men asking “Why Always Us” that has to be the goalpost’s improving ability to make saves in favour of the opposing teams.
Liverpool have the worst conversion rate in the Premier League standing at an appalling 8%! They have scored only 30 goals so far (four of those being own goals), same as second from bottom and relegation candidates Wolverhampton, and only five more than the 25 strikes Robin Van Persie has had for the Gunners. In between, they have failed to convert six penalties with Charlie Adam, Luis Suarez, and Dirk Kuyt all missing from 12 yards.
Well, these setbacks are all their making. But hitting the post for an unprecedented 21 times is inexplicable. Is it lack of luck or is it down to explanation that Liverpool players are not clinical enough? Do they always try to hit the ball just an inch closer to the post or crossbar and inches off the goalkeeper? It’s hard to know.
Maybe it’s high time a Liverpool player – err... Suarez – wore a shirt asking, “Why Always Us?” And that should come in the Sunderland match at the weekend because it’s guaranteed someone will hit the post.
Oh, I remember Stewart Downing hitting the underside of the bar when the Liverpool faced Sunderland in the first game of the season.
That’s where it started. It has to come to an end this weekend if Liverpool are to stand a chance of qualifying for the Champions League. Doesn’t it?
And That's thesteifmastertake!!
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