Liverpool's failure to take their chances is costing them results... Jurgen Klopp's wasteful 'Fab Four' must improve in front of goal

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After a ruthless battering of Arsenal at Anfield, exactly one month ago, Jurgen Klopp spoke in the aftermath of a 'perfect' Liverpool performance.

Liverpool not only dazzled between both penalty boxes but they backed it up where it mattered, inside their own 18-yard box and the opposition's.

But as September draws to a close, Klopp has seen his side win just once in six, scoring only seven times and conceding 13.

Jurgen Klopp gesticulates on the touchline during Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Spartak Moscow

Roberto Firmino rues a missed opportunity as Jurgen Klopp's side failed to take their chances

The bare numbers make grim reading for a Liverpool side who remain easy on the eye but have become criminally wasteful in the early throes of the season.

In their last six games they have taken 121 shots for their paltry return of seven goals, leaving their conversion rate at just over five per cent.

By comparison the opposition have had only 49, 30 of them on target and 13 ending up in the back of the net - that's 26.5 per cent of all opposition shots resulting in a goal. 

The much-vaunted 'Fab Four' - Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Philippe Coutinho - finally started a game together for the first time in the 1-1 draw away to Spartak Moscow on Tuesday night.

The starting eleven - the strongest hand available to Klopp - managed 16 shots on goal, and six on target. They conceded four, two on target, with one ending up in the back of the net from a free-kick.

Mohamed Salah has scored six goals since arriving but has not been clinical enough

Liverpool's lack of ruthlessness in both penalty areas is placing undue pressure on the other. The forward line know they must score because the defence will give up a presentable scoring opportunity.

The same is true for the defence, who know they must keep the ball out because the misfiring front line will not bail them out. It is a vicious circle.

The shaky defence takes the brunt of the criticism, but they are doing half of their job well enough. Liverpool have actually allowed their opponents fewer shots than any other team except Manchester City.

The problem is the type of chances Klopp's side are giving away. They have allowed their opponents nine shots on goal from inside the six-yard box this season, conceding five times. Only Bournemouth have allowed more.

Philippe Coutinho's shot on goal was the only one of 16 that found the back of the net

The Brazilian celebrates equalising after Fernando's free-kick had opened the scoring

New personnel and rotation have not helped Klopp's defence - with two of last season's first-choice back four, Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner - out of the picture.

While the defence are gifting goals to the opposition, Liverpool look profligate in front of the opposition net. But they are second in the league for taking shots outside the box, with 48.

That means 40 per cent of the shots they have taken in the Premier League this season have come outside the area. Only one has ended in the back of the net - Philippe Coutinho's free-kick at Leicester on Saturday.

The issue, then, is in chance creation rather than simply in front of goal. They have been impatient, shooting on sight rather than waiting for the better scoring opportunity by dragging the opposition around the final third.

Against Burnley Liverpool manufactured 35 attempts on goal, but 17 came from outside the box.

Sadio Mane had a goal disallowed for offside as Liverpool drew once again in Europe

Liverpool's players trudge off the pitch after a second draw in two Champions League games

Compare Liverpool's wastefulness with the rest of the top six, and they are actually converting slightly more of their chances than either Arsenal or Tottenham. Though they have had 215 shots, compared to 151 and 176 respectively.

Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United are in a league of their own, with the champions' conversion hitting almost 20 per cent.

That Antonio Conte's side have had the fewest shots by some distance suggests they may be choosing their moments more wisely than the rest.

This is something Klopp must work on in the coming weeks, because they were doing it well enough this time a year ago, putting four and six past Leicester and Hull.

Klopp will expect that there is more to come from his 'Fab Four', and hope that increased game time will bring improved results. 

Mohamed Salah, Joel Matip and Daniel Sturridge walk off after the full-time whistle