It’s no secret that Liverpool have been struggling across all areas of the pitch over the 25/26 Premier League season.
Having started the campaign on a four game winning streak, the team’s form has become increasingly more concerning for fans over the past few months, as they have picked up just two league wins since the beginning of November.
In particular, the front line has come under scrutiny for their lack of product, especially due to the quality the players in the group are known to have.
There was significant pressure on all Liverpool’s forwards coming into the new season, given the success of the 2024/25 title winning squad.
However, due to the new personnel in the team, with players such as Florian Wirtz still adapting to life in the Premier League, it’s not a huge surprise the team looked to be out of their usual rhythm.
The issue arises when the team are still struggling to hit form heading into Christmas, and questions become more about the performance of individual players rather than if they are just still settling in the new style.
Last season Mo Salah had 47 goal involvements over his 38 appearances in the Premier League, but this season he has just six over 15.
His expected goals however are still 3.88 a game, second only to Cody Gakpo, who’s xG is 4.03.
Gakpo leads the main cohort of strikers in assists, whilst equalling Salah on goals scored (4) in the Premier League this season. Unlike Salah, the Dutchman has appeared in every single one of the Reds league games so far but is now out injured.
Record English signing Alexander Isak has been hindered by injury in his start to life at the club, making eight appearances since his arrival from Newcastle United on deadline day, tallying just one Premier League one goal and one assist.
In comparison, fellow summer signing Hugo Ekitike’s five goals make him Liverpool’s top scorer in the league.
Ekitike tallied less goals than Isak last season; with Isak scoring 23 goals for Newcastle in the Premier League, compared to Ekitike’s 15 for Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Bundesliga.
However, given the differences between playing in the two leagues, Ekitike adjusting and putting himself forward early in the season as one of Liverpool’s more clinical strikers, leaves the young Frenchman in good stead to start more league games going forward, especially if Isak continues to struggle with injuries and form.
