Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits dwindling numbers of chances created and goals scored is a concern as the club stumble towards the end of the season.
A return of four from the last five league matches, half of which were scored against a Newcastle side in free fall, has brought a meagre tally of four points to derail their Champions League hopes.
Their other two goals came in defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal, but being shut out by West Brom and Hull in the last week has only highlighted a problem which has not been far from the surface all season because of injuries to Daniel Sturridge, whom Rodgers confirmed will now see an orthopaedic surgeon in the United States in an attempt to solve "underlying issues".
"It is a concern (creating chances) because that is the game," said Rodgers.
"You always worry about working and performing well, and key to creating chances is being able to score.
"It is about efficiency and if you are not going to create as many opportunities then you have to be clinical.
"The game the other night (a 1-0 defeat at Hull), we had 20 attempts on goal and nine shots on target.
"For an away team playing against a low defensive block, to have nine shots on target it is quite a high number and you'd at least expect to score a goal.
"We didn't have that and how we create the chances, how we arrive into those areas and the scoring of those opportunities (is something) we need to analyse."
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