Liverpool's numbers last season

[Getty Images] As disappointing as last season was for the 2024-25 champions, Liverpool's underlying numbers just about justified their top-five finish - but it is clear there is a lot for new manager Andoni Iraola to improve. While only the two Manchester clubs took more shots, 11 teams were better than Liverpool at converting them. But it wasn't so much a finishing problem for Arne Slot's side, it was a creative one as 12 teams fashioned chances that were easier to score, which is why the Reds only ranked sixth for expected goals. Despite conceding 53 times, surprisingly only three teams gave up fewer chances and only the top two teams had a lower xG against figure. But only relegated Wolves and Chelsea conceded a higher percentage of their opponents' shots, with Alisson and Giorgi Mamardashvili both ranking among the worst shotstoppers in terms of goals prevented. While it could have simply been down to them, the fact they both performed poorly suggests they may not have been working in the best environment at the back. [BBC]