What is behind Liverpool’s sudden struggles in front of goal?

Jurgen Klopp’s side have not found the net in their last three Premier League fixtures, their worst drought since March 2005.

Liverpool’s goalless draw against Manchester United has left them on their worst goalscoring run in the league in almost 16 years.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have not found the net in their last three Premier League fixtures, their worst drought since March 2005, and have scored just one in four since lashing seven past Crystal Palace on December 19.

In those four matches they have had 63 shots, only 11 of which have been on target.

Here, the PA news agency looks at what has gone wrong and how Klopp might turn around their fortunes in front of goal.

Fabled front three have foundered

Liverpool’s famed front three of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane together on the pitch — Liverpool’s famed front three of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have lost their cutting edge (Michael Egan/PA)

Waiting game

The long-term absence of Virgil Van Dijk with a knee injury has robbed the team of the league’s best defender but he was also an attacking outlet with his passing from the back. However, more critical at the moment is the unavailability of Diogo Jota, scorer of eight goals in 11 matches before a knee injury in the Champions League dead rubber against Midtjylland. Since then Liverpool have registered only two Premier League victories and scored 11 goals – seven of which came at Palace. Klopp has no back-up quality but Jota’s return is not expected until the end of the month.

Changing formation

Liverpool’s tried-and-tested 4-3-3 won them the Champions League and Premier League and only rarely has their manager deviated from it. One option of getting more goals into the team – outside of his four top forwards no player has more than one league goal – could be to switch to a 4-2-3-1. In his last two matches he has opted to have Thiago Alcantara as the pivot alongside the hard-working Georginio Wijnaldum plus one attack-minded midfielder. A switch to a double pivot, pushing Salah into the central striker role would open up wide a slot higher up the pitch.

Midfield shake-up

Fabinho and Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson greet each other on the pitch — Liverpool are missing the drive of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho in midfield (Paul Ellis/NMC Pool)

Fix the full-backs

The roles of Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been modified due to the nature of this unique season – without accounting for the loss of security given to them by them Van Dijk – and they are not bombing forward as much. Last season they contributed 25 assists between them, so far Robertson has five and Alexander-Arnold has two. The England right-back had Covid-19 at the start of the season and appears to have suffered the most, looking short of confidence.