Liverpool have scored 15 goals across their Champions League and Carabao Cup matches, yet have managed just nine in seven Premier League games.
That is the sort of statistic that should make Andoni Iraola stop and think.
This is a Liverpool side packed with attacking talent. Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Bradley Barcola, Cody Gakpo, Victor Muñoz and Rio Ngumoha give the manager plenty of options, while 10 different players have already found the net this season.
So this is not a team lacking goalscorers.
The problem is getting that attacking quality to produce consistently in the Premier League.
Liverpool have looked far more dangerous in Europe, scoring six against LASK and four against Villarreal, with their attacking play against the Spanish side providing plenty of encouragement despite the defensive concerns.
But the league has been a different story.
Liverpool are still waiting for their first Premier League home win under Iraola, and Brighton arrive at Anfield on Sunday having already scored 23 league goals.
That is a huge contrast, and it makes this an important afternoon for Liverpool’s new manager.
Why are Liverpool scoring so freely in Europe but struggling in the league?
Iraola was asked about the difference after Liverpool’s victory over Villarreal, and he admitted he did not have a definitive explanation.
“I don’t really know the reason,” he said.
He pointed towards the opposition Liverpool have faced, suggesting that the differences between the teams and the types of games they play are more significant than the competitions themselves.
It is a fair point.
European football can give Liverpool more opportunities to attack space, particularly when opponents are willing to come forward. When Liverpool find those spaces, their pace and technical ability can cause serious problems.
The Premier League is a different challenge.
Liverpool have repeatedly found themselves facing opponents who are happy to sit deep, protect their penalty area and wait for mistakes. When the Reds concede first, that task becomes even more difficult because the opposition can retreat further and make the spaces even smaller.
And that is where Liverpool need to improve.
Having talented attackers is one thing. Finding a way to get the best out of them against a packed defence is another.
The low-block problem has followed Liverpool into a new era
One of the interesting things about Iraola’s appointment was his attitude towards opponents who defend deep.
During his first press conference as Liverpool manager, he explained that he actually preferred facing low blocks because it allowed his team to spend more time in the opposition half.
“I prefer to face low blocks in terms of the way we will be in control of the games,” he explained.
His reasoning was understandable. If Liverpool can keep the ball high up the pitch, they should be able to limit the opposition’s opportunities while creating chances of their own.
But there is a difference between controlling territory and creating clear chances.
Liverpool can dominate possession, push their full-backs forward and keep the opposition pinned back, yet still struggle to find the decisive pass or create enough space for Isak and the other attackers.
That is the challenge Iraola now faces.
He has inherited a squad with considerable attacking quality, and the club have invested heavily in players who should be capable of unlocking stubborn defences. Yet the early Premier League numbers suggest that the pieces are not quite fitting together consistently enough.
I don’t think this is a reason to panic after just seven league games. It is far too early to draw sweeping conclusions about Iraola’s long-term future.
But it is a problem that needs addressing.
Liverpool have the players – now they need to make it work
The frustrating thing is that Liverpool have already shown what they can do.
The Villarreal performance demonstrated that this attack can produce moments of real quality. Wirtz has the vision to create opportunities, Isak offers a genuine threat through the middle, and Barcola brings pace and direct running.
Then there is Gakpo, who has continued to be one of Liverpool’s most productive attacking players, alongside the exciting Ngumoha, who has already shown he is not afraid to take defenders on.
There are goals in this squad.
The question is whether Iraola can find the right combinations and give these players the platform to deliver in the league.
Sometimes that might mean moving the ball quicker. Sometimes it might require more movement between the lines, with midfielders arriving in the box rather than leaving the forwards isolated against several defenders.
And sometimes Liverpool simply need to be more ruthless when the opportunity comes.
The expected-goals figures mentioned in the original analysis suggest Liverpool should have scored more than they have. That points towards a combination of missed chances and a need to create more consistently, rather than a complete lack of attacking potential.
It is also worth remembering that scoring goals is not the only measure of progress. Iraola has spoken about Liverpool defending better in the league than in their European and cup matches.
That improvement matters, but Liverpool cannot allow better defensive organisation to come at the expense of their attacking identity.
Brighton are the perfect test
Brighton are not the sort of side who will necessarily arrive at Anfield simply to defend for 90 minutes.
They have attacking ambition of their own, and that could give Liverpool the spaces they have enjoyed in Europe. But Brighton are also capable of controlling possession and making life uncomfortable for opponents.
That makes this a fascinating test of Iraola’s ideas.
If Liverpool can impose themselves, move the ball with purpose and turn their attacking possession into clear chances, they could finally deliver the kind of Premier League performance their supporters have been waiting for.
If they become predictable, allow Brighton to settle and struggle to break through, the questions about their league scoring record will only grow louder.
The upcoming Arsenal fixture will provide another major examination, so Liverpool need to start finding answers now.
I want to see the front-foot football that convinced Liverpool to appoint Iraola. I want to see Wirtz influencing games, Isak getting the service he needs and the wide players attacking defenders with confidence.
Most importantly, I want to see Liverpool turn their attacking promise into goals when the points are on the line.
Nine goals in seven league games is not good enough for a team with these ambitions. It is not a crisis, and there is plenty of time to improve, but it is a warning that Liverpool cannot ignore.
The talent is there. The manager has his ideas. The signs in Europe have been encouraging.
Now it is time to make it count in the Premier League.
Brighton could give Liverpool the space to show what they can do – but if the same problems appear again, Iraola will know that finding a solution cannot wait much longer.
Jamie – (The Kopite View)
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