Liverpool's Goal Drought: What's Holding Them Back in the Premier League?

Liverpool's goal-scoring woes are raising eyebrows this season. With just nine goals in seven Premier League matches, they stand in stark contrast to teams like Brighton and Manchester City, who have netted 23 and 20 times respectively. As they gear up to host Brighton at Anfield, Liverpool is still searching for their first home win under Andoni Iraola. In other competitions, however, the Reds have been anything but shy, racking up 15 goals across three Champions League fixtures and a Carabao Cup clash against Tottenham. Even without Mohamed Salah, Liverpool boasts a diverse attacking lineup, having seen 10 different players score this season. So, what’s the reason behind their Premier League struggles, where they average a mere 1.29 goals per game compared to 3.75 in other tournaments? After a commanding 4-0 win against Villarreal, Iraola was asked about the disparity. "I don’t really know the reason," he admitted. "It’s true that the LASK game was different, but against Villarreal and Atletico Madrid, we’ve been offensively solid. In the Premier League, we're not hitting those same levels, even though we are defending better." Indeed, the defensive side of Liverpool's game has shown improvement, with three clean sheets and only eight goals conceded in the league. However, they have found themselves trailing in four of those seven matches, making it challenging to break down teams that set up defensively. Iraola hinted that the type of opposition plays a significant role. In his initial press conference, he emphasized the importance of his tactical principles. Historically, Liverpool has struggled against teams that adopt a low block, but Iraola seems to prefer that style of play from opponents. "I prefer facing low blocks because it allows us to control the game better," he explained. "Some teams give you that opportunity right away; others will try to dominate and play in your half. I want us to spend as much time as possible in the opposition's half, both with and without the ball, as that puts us closer to scoring." Liverpool has encountered a low block in 28% of their games this season, the highest rate in the Premier League. In contrast, they’ve faced a high block in just 15% of their matches—the lowest in the league. It’s clear that many teams are opting for a defensive approach against them, and Iraola is starting to grasp the nuances of this reality. With a flurry of new signings aimed at enhancing their attacking prowess, the expectation is high for Liverpool to break through these defenses. An analyst from a Champions League team noted, "In European football, there are more opportunities for technical brilliance. The players Liverpool has brought in are already elite, which leads to more chances and goals. But the Premier League presents a different challenge." The aim behind bringing Iraola to the club was to instill a more aggressive style of play, and with talents like Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Bradley Barcola, Cody Gakpo, Victor Munoz, and Rio Ngumoha at his disposal, the pressure is on for the attack to deliver. Interestingly, the expected goals (xG) metric suggests Liverpool should have scored around 10.9 goals in the league by now. Before this weekend, eight teams—newly promoted Ipswich included—have outscored them. While Arsenal has also recorded just 11 goals this season, they managed to win the league in 2025-26 with an average of 1.87 goals per game. As Liverpool braces for their upcoming matches against Brighton and the reigning champions Arsenal, Iraola will be eager for his side to find their rhythm and make a strong statement.