On Sunday, Liverpool and Manchester City played out an unexpected goalless draw at Anfield. The Citizens were the side closest to breaking the deadlock with just five minutes remaining, as Riyad Mahrez blazed over from the penalty spot.
The miss was a massive let-off for the home side, who lacked their usual attacking spark. The usual vibe and vigour of a Jurgen Klopp side was absence, as unusually for a Liverpool-City game of late defences came out on top.
Sunday’s game was not the first in which Liverpool’s first choice attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino had struggled to make an impact in recent games.
The Reds have now scored just twice in their last four outings in all competitions, failing to score in their last two games. What is more worrying for the Merseysiders is the team have not really looked like scoring.
Granted their recent opponents have been tough in Chelsea, Napoli and of course City. However, those were the sort of opponents that Liverpool has thrived against under Klopp.
The men for the big occasions like Mane, Firmino and Salah usually offer a constant dynamic threat to opposition defences. The trio have looked tired and slightly sluggish in recent games though. Without the trio at a hundred per cent, Liverpool are not the same team.
The trio’s numbers from this season show a downturn in their output this season. Salah has scored three goals, Mane four and Firmino two from eight games in all competitions.
England international Daniel Sturridge has come on at times and added extra energy. However, the former Chelsea star is arguably not on the same level as the Reds first choice forwards.
After a thunderous start to the season, the Liverpool attackers seem to be running out of steam very quickly. Sunday’s draw against City saw the Reds slip to third-place in the table, although they are only behind leaders Chelsea and City by virtue of an inferior goal difference.
No doubt Liverpool will rediscover their attacking spark at some point during the season. However, whether that will be enough to win the Premier League title only time will tell.