Liverpool must create more chances against Fulham. Here’s how they can

AFC BournemouthArsenalAston VillaBrentfordBrighton & Hove AlbionBurnleyChelseaCrystal PalaceEvertonFulhamLeeds UnitedLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedNottingham ForestSunderlandTottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedWolverhampton WanderersScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyThe Athletic FC NewsletterPodcastsAnalysisLiverpool must create more chances against Fulham. Here’s how they canHugo Ekitike reacts after a missed chance in Liverpool's FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester City Carl Recine/Getty Images Share full articleThe sight of Alexander Isak taking to the pitch for the first time in four months was one of the few positives for Liverpool against Paris Saint-Germain, but it is also clear that their attacking problems go much deeper than them missing their club-record signing. Their three shots, none of which were on target, had a total xG of 0.18 — the lowest of head coach Arne Slot’s reign — and the lack of any consistent threat throughout the 90 minutes laid bare their issues. Liverpool have scored just once in their past three games, and the source of that was left-back Milos Kerkez against Brighton & Hove Albion. It was not at the end of a flowing team move either, but thanks to the Hungarian international’s anticipation, which led to him latching on to Lewis Dunk’s attempted header back to his own goalkeeper from Giorgi Mamardashvili’s speculative ball forward. Ahead of the fixture against Brighton, Slot was asked about his side’s goalscoring struggles in the first half of matches. His response was telling. “You are saying we’re struggling to score goals, and then you added in the first half,” Slot told reporters in his pre-match press conference. “I would say we are struggling to score goals.” It’s not exactly what you want to hear entering the business end of the campaign, and the fact that keeping clean sheets has become a rarity makes it even more problematic. The recent goalscoring form of the three main forwards available to Slot makes for desperate reading. Mohamed Salah has managed five goals in his past 13 matches (it could and should have been more but for two missed penalties), Hugo Ekitike has scored twice in his past 12, while Cody Gakpo has netted just once in his previous 16. Isak’s return boosts the number of forwards available for Slot, but it is unlikely to solve his team-mates’ confidence issues when trying to build attacks and when they find themselves in front of goal. Ekitike endured a tough night in Paris and while his gangly style can look serene in full flow, it can look equally messy when he is struggling to hold the ball up and bring his team-mates into play. As for the two wingers, who both began the Champions League tie on the bench, it has been a similar story. Gakpo was largely anonymous when he emerged from the dugout for the last 15 minutes, while Salah remained an unused substitute. As the camera zoomed in on Salah’s face before he missed his penalty against Manchester City, he looked bereft of confidence. It was evident in the chance he missed in the first half, too, when he took too long to shoot. Abdukodir Khusanov was able to fall over and still recover in time to block his effort. Liverpool’s attacking problems have been well documented throughout the campaign. It has been a combination of slow build-up play, a lack of dynamism and speed of the collective and individuals, the form of players, and a lack of a coherent structure out of possession, which begins from their initial high pressing attempts. They have also simply not been clinical enough, and that becomes more obvious when forwards are getting one or two good chances in games rather than three or four. If Slot’s team want to achieve the bare minimum required of securing a top-five finish and Champions League qualification, then the attacking output has to improve. And that must begin against Fulham. How they do that is difficult because some of the problems listed above have been season-long issues and feel unfixable in such a short space of time. There is little positivity to glean from their past three games, either, perhaps with the exception of the opening 35 minutes at the Etihad. It should be pointed out that those three games were all away from home, including against two of Europe’s elite in Manchester City and PSG, stadiums you can play well at and still create very little. Away at Brighton, they were also without Isak, Salah, and, after five minutes, Ekitike, leaving them with little firepower on the pitch. Their last impressive attacking display was the 4-0 victory over Galatasaray, when Slot tweaked his shape to a 4-2-2-2 and it enabled individuals to flourish. Jamie Carragher, speaking on CBS, suggested Liverpool have “got too many players that are arrogant on the ball and not humble off it”. Too often, Liverpool have struggled to earn the right to play because they have had issues with the off-ball structure and pressing, but it is something they got right against Galatasaray. That fed into what they were able to do in possession. The key in both the Galatasaray performance and that opening period against Manchester City was Liverpool’s ability to punch the ball through the defensive lines of the opposition. It is something they have struggled to do this season, particularly when facing low blocks, but quick, progressive passing is one way to break it down, and Florian Wirtz has been central to that. The two main shooting chances Ekitike had in the first half at the Etihad came from Wirtz finding space, receiving possession, and building the attack. He combined with Ekitike in this example… … and released Salah down the right flank in this second example. That had been prominent in the Galatasaray game, too. The difference was Liverpool were clinical, which they weren’t in Manchester. Liverpool were able to open up their opponents by finding space between midfield and defence through Alexis Mac Allister and then a combination of the Argentina international, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wirtz. It allowed the front two of Salah and Ekitike to make movements with the opposition on the back foot, rather than receiving possession after a methodical build-up. Moving Salah more centrally has led to chances being created for him, and Ekitike has increasingly looked like a striker who works better with somebody alongside him to help him lead the line. Those two starting the game against Fulham is no guarantee, mainly because Ekitike has started both matches this week. Fitness is likely to play a role in team selection, but Slot can now look at his bench and see more attacking options at his disposal. One of the issues Liverpool have had this season is their lack of threat further into games as starters have tired and the absence of anyone to replace them. Fulham should provide a sterner defensive test than Galatasaray did, and the onus will once again be on Liverpool’s attacking talent to rediscover the freedom and creativity they showcased against Galatasaray, and then continue to do it for the rest of the campaign. The time for playing safe is over. The Reds must take more risks. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Andrew Jones is a Staff Writer for The Athletic covering Burnley FC and Liverpool FC. Having graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class Honours Degree in Sports Journalism, Andrew has had written work published for the Liverpool Echo, Chelsea FC and Preston North End. Follow Andy on Twitter @adjones_journo