Iraola: We must sacrifice control for creativity to fix scoring woes

Iraola says Liverpool must take more risks and sacrifice possession control to improve their creativity and scoring, with the Reds having created the second-fewest big chances in the Premier League.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has called on his side to sacrifice control of matches in order to fix their creativity problems and improve their goal-scoring record ahead of Sunday's trip to Crystal Palace.

The Reds have struggled in front of goal this season, creating the second-fewest big chances in the Premier League and scoring only four goals in five home games—their joint-fewest at this stage of a season in their history. They failed to register a shot on target in a home Premier League game for the first time in over 440 games during last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.

Iraola, who arrived at Anfield last summer with a reputation for direct, front-foot football, acknowledged the need to take more risks. "In possession we can have good positions, but sometimes we have to throw numbers inside the box, arrive with more players," he said. "It will take a little bit of control away, but it will give us more threat when we arrive." He noted that while Liverpool ranks highly for volume of shots and crosses, the quality of chances remains low. Despite the team's wider struggles, striker Alexander Isak has scored six of Liverpool's 11 Premier League goals and sits second in the Golden Boot race behind Erling Haaland.