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Whether it be the shot, the final pass or the pass before the pass which would then lead to a clear-cut opportunity, Liverpool have been getting it wrong time and time again, repeatedly letting their opponents off the hook.
It’s undeniable at this point that Liverpool tend to struggle against opponents who sit deep and defend in numbers, but they have still carved out presentable opportunities in virtually every game throughout this disastrous post-Christmas run which has seen them pick up just nine points from the last 33 on offer in the Premier League.
While the centre-back injury crisis (and it’s numerous knock-on impacts) has been widely pin-pointed as the primary factor contributing to Liverpool’s dismal form over the past two months, another issue warrants greater scrutiny: consistently poor decision-making and execution in and around the opposition penalty area.
In and among the wastefulness, there’s also been a hefty dose of misfortune too, both in terms of the ball not dropping their way and consistently finding themselves on the wrong end of dubious, sometimes farcical VAR decisions in both boxes (Liverpool have now suffered 11 negative VAR decisions this season, more than any team suffered in the entirety of last season).
Much more often than not, they’ve lacked a ruthless edge to convert their domination in terms of territory and possession into a concrete advantage on the scoreline, consequently giving their opponents a platform to build on and grow into games.
Instead, he takes an extra touch and his shot ends up being deflected out for a corner by Michael Keane.
Bad decision-making, bad execution and bad luck – when you combine it with the injury situation and lack of atmosphere due to empty stadiums, it’s a recipe for disaster.