In the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League season, Benfica pulled off an improbable win against a dominant Ajax side at the Johan Cruyff Arena on March 15, 2022. Despite registering just four shots, with only one on target, they emerged victorious.
Fast forward to today, and Liverpool have now relieved Benfica of that unwanted record, managing only two shots—one on target—yet still securing a win. It’s a rare occurrence in football, but not unprecedented. Only Sunderland (Premier League, 2005-06) and Inverness Caledonian Thistle (Scottish League, 2013) have ever won a match without recording a single shot on target.
While winning is ultimately what matters in knockout competitions, for a club of Liverpool’s stature, registering just two shots over 90 minutes is unexpected. This raises questions about their ability to progress in the tournament, as fortune seemed to favor them today.
With tougher challenges ahead, one has to wonder: Can Liverpool rely on more than just luck to reach the next round?
