Manager insists missing one of the league’s best goalscorers has had “a massive impact on our performances”
Arne Slot claims one of the reasons Liverpool have had such a poor season is the absence of striker Alexander Isak, who has struggled with injuries this term and been out since December with a fractured leg.
The injury occurred when Isak scored against Tottenham Hotspur, and the forward is not expected to return until early April. In his absence, Liverpool have struggled on the attack and currently sit sixth in the Premier League, posting the lowest shot conversion rate among the division’s top six teams.
Isak had initially endured a slow start at Anfield following his record £125m move from Newcastle United. After missing pre-season, the Sweden international needed time to settle but began to find some form before his injury, scoring twice in five league appearances.
“Do you think it would have had an impact if we had one of the best goal scorers in this league in the last three, four or five years available throughout the whole season?” Slot asked.
“This would have had a massive impact on our performances, because you also saw this game [against Spurs in December] and almost every game you see how much impact a goal can have on a performance.”
Liverpool initially coped after the setback, defeating Wolves in their first match without the striker. But their attacking struggles soon surfaced, with the team drawing four consecutive league games while scoring just three goals during that run.
“If you miss out on Alex, the biggest signing we made, that has had a massive impact on us. Look at how many goals we’ve scored this season – that’s ridiculously low for the team. Of course it has an impact that one of the forwards that we brought in for scoring goals was injured.”
The Dutchman also admitted the team had not adapted quickly enough after their major squad rebuild, which has left Liverpool trailing league leaders Arsenal by 19 points.
“It was something we were aware of in the back of our mind that could happen with signing so many new players, but not something we or I was expecting,” Slot said.
“You always know if you let go of so many players and you bring in so many new players, it could mean transition is needed, but the expectations were not that we were having a season as we are having now.
“But for all the reasons that I don’t want to bring up every single time we are here – it has become a season like that. And partly for a few percentages, that’s also because we’ve made so many changes.”
