Coach Arne Slot looked at the number of goals scored by Liverpool strikers in the Premier League this season and said briefly: "That's not enough".
If that message was conveyed specifically to the players, they would have quickly given an answer. Hugo Ekitike scored after only 5 minutes in the match against West Ham United, and Cody Gakpo also ended his goalless streak.
After 3 recent Premier League matches without any strikers scoring, that is clearly a positive sign. However, Slot's overall assessment is probably still correct. Liverpool - who spent about 200 million pounds on strikers last summer - is receiving too few goals from the attacking trio. Compared to last season, the decline is very clear.
After 28 rounds last season, 6 key Liverpool strikers have scored a total of 51 goals. At the same time this season, the number is only 26 - a decrease of nearly half. It can be said that 51 goals is an efficiency level exceeding expectations, and 26 goals are definitely lower than expected.
2024-2025 season (first 28 matches): Mohamed Salah 25 goals, Luis Diaz 9 goals, Gakpo 8 goals, Diogo Jota 5 goals, Darwin Nunez 4 goals, Federico Chiesa 0 goals.
Season 2025-2026: Ekitike 11 goals, Gakpo 6 goals, Salah 4 goals, Chiesa 2 goals, Alexander Isak 2 goals, Rio Ngumoha 1 goal.
It is possible to consider bringing Florian Wirtz into this group, because he is another big attacking signing of the summer, although most of the time he plays in the number 10 role. If Wirtz is included, the total goals of the attacking group this season will be 30.
Simply put, the decline may revolve around two names Salah and Isak.
Even according to his standards, Salah last season achieved an incredible scoring efficiency - an average of one goal per 99 minutes, with 17 assists. He surpassed the expected goal score (xG) by 4.77 goals. But currently, his form has clearly declined. Salah is going through a 4-month streak of no goals in the Premier League (although interrupted by bench time and the African Cup). His xG per 90 minutes has decreased from 0.73 to 0.36, and he is currently behind xG by 2.78 goals.
Isak's case is similar in another way. After 28 matches last season, he had 19 goals, a scoring efficiency of one goal per 109 minutes. But this season, a broken leg injury caused him to only play 519 minutes and only score 2 goals. If Liverpool expects Isak to gradually replace Salah's scoring role, then fitness issues prevent it from happening.
Liverpool is also being affected by the lack of penalties. Last season they were awarded 9 penalties - the most in the league. This season, the number is only 2 - the fewest in the league - and Dominik Szoboszlai also missed one.
In other positions, the results are quite opposite. Chiesa and Ngumoha have good performance compared to xG but limited playing minutes. Ekitike and Gakpo played below expectations, although Ekitike is still in the top scoring group of the league. A year ago, Liverpool led the league in goals and xG, and currently they are only fourth in most attacking stats.
Salah's decline is happening faster than predicted, and Isak's injury makes the problem even more serious. Although Liverpool can score 5 goals against West Ham without Salah scoring or assisting, Slot's assessment is still hard to deny.
26 goals from strikers after 28 rounds - with the ambition to compete for titles - is really not enough for Liverpool.
