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“Need to be more clinical”: Liverpool boss highlights a recent recurring issue

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By Siddharth Juyal

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot highlighted the glaring problem with finishing after securing a late Premier League victory against Brentford. The Reds beat the Bees 0-2 in the away game after Darwin Nunez scored two late goals for the visitors.

Slot highlighted the amount of chances that Liverpool created in the last two Premier League draws that cost four points. The Reds drew Manchester United in the first game of 2025 followed by another Premier League draw against Nottingham Forest.

Slot’s team dominated both games but failed to capitalize on the chances they created despite having numerous prolific attacking options. Against Man United, Liverpool showed a lot of complacency in defence that cost them dearly in the end.

Liverpool star Darwin Nunez scored two late goals to provide three crucial points to his team against Brentford.
Liverpool star Darwin Nunez scored two late goals to provide three crucial points to his team against Brentford.

However, they enjoyed a thorough dominance against Forest but their formidable defence negated most of the opportunities that Liverpool created. The victory against Brentford provided the Reds a major boost

Speaking in the post-match press conference after the Brentford victory (via Liverpoolfc.com), Slot highlighted the problem with finishing that Liverpool are facing. He said:

“Yes, of course I had doubts about that because before we scored the two goals it felt as if I was looking at the same game again and again and again and in the same pattern. I said it already a few times in other interviews that against [Manchester] United everybody was focused on the [Harry] Maguire chance but [in] the seven minutes before we had three open chances. So many times in recent weeks – against Tottenham as well – we missed a lot of chances, against [Nottingham] Forest we missed a lot. So, it would have been a bit surprising if I felt, ‘OK, after all these chances missed today, we will probably score in the last five minutes.’ But the players proved me wrong again.”

While the Reds enjoyed their second clean sheet of 2025, they have a glaring problem with composure and finishing. Liverpool scored their two goals against Brentford from their 36th and 37th shot of the evening by Nunez.

The Reds fired 35 shots before those goals with 14 missing the target despite the players having four big chances. Liverpool needs more incision in front of goal despite the top form that the likes of Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz enjoyed earlier this season.

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The Reds will play LOSC Lille next in the Champions League clash where they can use a healthy squad rotation. Liverpool are already at the top of the Champions League table, having won all of their six games this season.

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