Liverpool's capacity for generating scoring opportunities has seen a significant downturn in the current football season when contrasted with their previous campaign. Although various statistical metrics might appear similar, a closer examination reveals a deficit in both the caliber and volume of chances created. This shortfall is largely attributed to the effective loss of a crucial creative player, a factor that invariably impacts team performance.
A deep dive into player data underscores the reasons behind this dip. The team is essentially operating without a vital creative engine, which naturally affects their offensive capabilities. Last season, Trent Alexander-Arnold was the linchpin of Liverpool's creative plays. His mere presence on the field compelled opposing teams to strategize around his ability to unlock defenses, even if he didn't directly contribute to every goal-scoring sequence.
Alexander-Arnold's expected assists (xA) per 90 minutes stood at an impressive 0.28 last season, positioning him at the pinnacle for Liverpool. Mohamed Salah followed closely with an xA of 0.24. This season, Salah leads the Reds' xA charts, but his numbers have decreased to 0.21 per 90 minutes. While some players like Curtis Jones maintain a similar xA (0.17) in fifth place, indicating a consistent average output within certain ranks, the top-tier creative output has undeniably suffered.
The primary issue stems from the significant reduction in top-level creativity. The team effectively swapped Alexander-Arnold's 0.28 xA contribution for Florian Wirtz's 0.2 xA. This 0.08 difference, if represented by an individual player, would place them within the Reds' top ten for creativity this season, nestled between Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister. This stark comparison illuminates the substantial void in creative force, suggesting that Alexander-Arnold's pivotal role was not adequately filled.
Moving forward, the hope lies in Wirtz's continued development and improvement, with aspirations for him to reach Alexander-Arnold's previous creative levels without diminishing other players' contributions. Achieving this would be instrumental in reinstating Liverpool's former offensive dynamism. The current situation paints a picture of a team playing with a noticeable disadvantage in terms of creative output compared to the last season.