Liverpool have tremendously disappointed the Anfield faithful this season, as they miserably started life without goalscoring talisman Luis Suarez to lead the line.
The excellent form of Daniel Sturridge last term, combined with new summer signings Mario Balotelli, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Rickie Lambert, Emre Can, Lazar Markovic and Alberto Moreno, who have all featured in the first-team this season, was a huge message of intent from manager Brendan Rodgers – but one that has far from paid off.
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Liverpool are in with a small chance of pipping fierce rivals Manchester United to a place in the top four, but they will have to rely on other results to do so – in what has been a hugely underachieving campaign for the Merseyside club.
These stats, posted by talkSPORT, show just how poor the Reds have been this term, particularly in front of goal, with their strike-force currently the worst in the Premier League.
Have a read below…
Liverpool’s forwards have scored just eight – yes, EIGHT – goals between them.
The Reds’ strikers are the least prolific in England’s top flight – with Crystal Palace’s strikers next having scored 11 and Sunderland’s strike-force having netted 12.
Brendan’s boys have scored just 47 goals in 37 games so far.
A far cry from the club-record 101 netted last season – 93 at the same stage last season – with Luis Suarez leading the attack…
Daniel Sturridge has scored only four times – the same amount of own goals the Reds have profited from.
The England international has been blighted by thigh, calf and hip injuries this term, making just 18 appearances, and is unlikely to feature again this term.
Sky Sports report that the 25-year-old has flown out to the US, again, in a bid to banish his ongoing issues and hopefully be fit for the start of next season.
Hull City are the only team Mario Balotelli has twice started against – and are the only team Liverpool have failed to score against.
Need we say anymore…
Mario Balotelli averaged a goal every 1.65 Serie A games for AC Milan, scoring 26 in 43 appearances…
The Italian also had a ratio of one goal to every 2.7 matches when at Manchester City – netting 20 in 54.
However, in the shirt of Liverpool, the 24-year-old has scored just once in 16 appearances…
Daniel Sturridge, Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini scored 55 goals league between them last season.
This season it’s a whole other story, as they’ve netted a miserable combined tally of eight.
Who is to blame for their drought?
The midfield is where the goals have come from.
Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling are the Reds’ joint top scorers in the league with seven each. Jordan Henderson has six, while Philippe Coutinho has five.
Liverpool have salvaged just four points after falling behind.
Brendan Rodgers’ side have fought back to win just once and draw once – losing ten times.
Everton’s defenders have been more prolific than Liverpool’s strikers.
The Toffees’ back-line has scored a combined nine, while the Reds’ forwards have a woeful eight between them for the season so far.
