Analysis: Crisis at Liverpool, Barça and Juve; What’s failing and how to fix it?

Analysis of the Crisis: What’s wrong with the elite teams in Europe?

The world of football is always full of opinions, but when it comes to teams like Liverpool, the criticism intensifies. The current Premier League champions have suffered a notable fall, losing five out of six league matches and falling to eighth place in the table. Across all competitions, they have accumulated seven defeats in ten matches. But, what is really happening? Mohamed Salah, one of the team’s stars, seems to be showing signs of fatigue. Florian Wirtz, a promising signing, is not performing at the expected level, and Alexander Isak has struggled with his physical condition and his ability to finish plays. To top it off, the Premier League seems to be evolving at a pace that the coach, Arne Slot, has failed to match. The meetings between players have not had the desired impact, and it seems that the team is still affected by the loss of Diogo Jota. The situation at Liverpool is reminiscent of other moments of crisis in football. Manchester City, after winning the league in 2023-24, suffered a slump in winter. Liverpool themselves, after their best seasons with Jürgen Klopp, experienced difficult periods. The pressure from the fans and the media is palpable, with figures like Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher expressing their concern.

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But, what do the statistics say? What are Liverpool’s key problems and what does it urgently need to improve? Below, we analyze the weaknesses of several European teams.

Liverpool

Current position in the Premier League: Eighth (1.64 points per game, compared to 2.21 last season)

Main statistical weakness: The defense. Despite the investment in offensive talent, the attack has regressed slightly. Although the team remains in sixth position in goals scored and xG created, their defense is the most worrying. They occupy ninth place in xG allowed (13.9) and twelfth in actual goals allowed (17). The defense in transition and set pieces are especially problematic. The goalkeeper’s drop in performance has also contributed to the problems. Liverpool has conceded at least two goals in seven of the eleven league games, losing five of them. When they have managed to keep a clean sheet or concede only one goal, they have won all four games.

Criticism of the attack is also valid. Salah, for example, has scored only four goals and two assists in eleven league games, while Isak and Wirtz have not had the expected impact due to the lack of goals. The defense is a structural problem that the team must address.

Barcelona

Current position in LaLiga: Second (2.33 points per game, compared to 2.32)Statistical Weakness: Lack of consistency. Barcelona maintains a similar pace to last season, in which they won LaLiga. The main problem has been the improvement of Real Madrid. In addition, injuries have affected the team, with key players like Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski losing minutes.

Despite the lack of continuity in the attack, Barcelona continues to perform at a good level. However, injuries to important players and the improvement of Real Madrid have made things difficult. In the Champions League, the team has had problems, and its defense has suffered in terms of xG allowed per shot and in counterattacks.

Newcastle United

Current position in the Premier League: Fourteenth (1.09 points per game, compared to 1.74)Major statistical weakness: Goals. Newcastle plays a more direct football than other teams in the league, but the lack of goals is a major problem. Despite having a direct style of play, the team is not taking advantage of its counter-attack opportunities and has suffered several injuries. Newcastle’s attack has disappeared, with only 11 goals scored in the league. Injuries have affected the team, and they are closer to the relegation zone than to the top spots.

Juventus

Current position in Serie A: Sixth (1.73 points per game, compared to 1.84)

Major statistical weakness: Shot quality. The lack of effectiveness in shots is a problem for Juventus. Despite creating opportunities, the team has not managed to convert them into goals. The forwards are not taking advantage of the chances they have, and the quality of the shots is low. Juventus is in a decent position in the table, but the lack of goals and the low quality of shots make their rise difficult.

Athletic Club

Current position in LaLiga: Eighth (1.42 points per game, compared to 1.84)Major statistical weakness: Defensive regression. Athletic Club has traditionally been a solid defensive team, but this season has shown a regression. The team has suffered injuries and has not managed to maintain its defensive performance. The attack has also been affected by injuries, and the team has had difficulties scoring goals. Participation in the Champions League has also not been successful.

Atalanta

Current position in Serie A: Thirteenth (1.18 points per game, compared to 1.95)

Major statistical weakness: Offensive stagnation. Atalanta has lost the quality of its shots. The low quality of shots can lead to irregularity in results. The new coach, Raffaele Palladino, could improve the situation, but the quality of the shots needs to improve.

Nottingham Forest

Current position in the Premier League: Nineteenth (0.82 points per game, compared to 1.71)

Main statistical weakness: Set plays and margin of error. Set plays have been a problem. The team has scored few goals from set plays and conceded many.

Despite the improvement under Dyche’s management, this aspect remains a problem for the team.

Mainz

Current position in the Bundesliga: Seventeenth (0.50 points per game, compared to 1.53)Major statistical weakness: Lack of shots. The team is not generating enough attacking opportunities. The defense has worsened, and the lack of goals is a problem. It is likely that the team will improve in the standings, but the lack of goals is a problem.

Fiorentina

Current position in Serie A: Twentieth (0.45 points per game, compared to 1.71)Major statistical weakness: Finishing and set pieces. The team is suffering from a lack of effectiveness in finishing plays. The lack of goals and the defense in set pieces have affected the team. Bad luck, lack of effectiveness, and problems in set-piece plays have affected the team.