Here’s the things with stats… they can be very misleading. Yes, both Liverpool and City have had no problems scoring goals despite neither having an out and out striker but, if you look at your games against City and Tottenham, a striker could’ve been the difference between being 2nd and 1st.
In those close decisive games, you need a Benzema to pull a goal out of individual brilliance. Take him out, and Real would not have got past the last 16 this season of the CL.
Yes, neither City and Liverpool have struggled for goals this season but Pep knew that it wasn’t sustainable to carry on without a true number 9, in spite of their ridiculous depth. Look how hard they were pushing to get Harry Kane.
Edit: look at Chelsea today. They objectively had the better chances but when you have Lukaku leading the line and an inefficient Pulisic playing along side him, it came back to bite them.