Liverpool is dying because of… set pieces

31/12/2025 07:46:00 PANDATV

Liverpool under Arne Slot is not a weak unit. On the contrary, they play modern football, managing the game’s pace well and generating one of the highest numbers of chances from open play in the Premier League.

But the paradox is this: the better Liverpool perform in open play, the more prone they are to collapse due to set-piece situations. As the season reaches its critical phase, this flaw has become the biggest barrier stopping them from joining the title race.

Why, Arne Slot?

No team in the top five European leagues has conceded more goals from set pieces (excluding penalties) than Liverpool this season, with 12 goals allowed from dead-ball situations. Newcastle, Crystal Palace, MU, Brentford, Man City, Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Tottenham, and most recently Wolves have all successfully exploited this weakness, some more than once.

Liverpool’s most serious problem lies in defending set pieces, especially corners. Of the 12 goals conceded from dead-ball situations, 7 came from corners, second only to West Ham (10) in the Premier League. Arne Slot once called this ratio "almost ridiculous," and the statistics prove he was not exaggerating.

Liverpool have faced only 85 corners this season, an average figure in the league, but concede a goal roughly every 12 corners. By comparison, Arsenal have defended just 55 corners, 30 fewer than Liverpool. Notably, Liverpool rarely concede directly from the initial aerial challenge. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate still dominate in the air. However, the fatal issue is with the "second ball."

Van Dijk himself openly admitted this is Liverpool’s weakness. When the ball rebounds, when opponents deliver a second cross, or when chaos breaks out in the penalty area, Liverpool’s players often react slowly, lack organization, and collectively lose concentration.

The goal conceded against Wolves is a clear example. Santi Bueno had free rein to finish close-range, while five Liverpool players were out of position, all drawn towards the ball. A similar scenario happened against Leeds, when Ao Tanaka was left unmarked at the far post to score the equalizer in stoppage time after the Reds’ defense shifted entirely towards the initial delivery point.

Liverpool cannot compete for titles because they score too few goals and concede too many from set pieces this season.

Even in the rare occasions when Liverpool lose the first aerial duel, such as Harry Maguire’s late goal for MU at Anfield, the danger stems from the second ball rather than the initial cross. Liverpool’s mixed man-marking and zonal defense helps avoid direct headers but exposes dangerous gaps at the far post and inside the six-yard box.

Liverpool are not keeping up with the times.

In the context of a Premier League revolution in set-piece tactics, Arne Slot’s views become more controversial. Before the Wolves match, he described set pieces as merely an addition to the game. But modern football proves otherwise.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, MU, Chelsea, and Aston Villa all regard set pieces as strategic weapons. MU have scored 13 goals from set plays this season, Arsenal and Leeds 12 each. This trend is not limited to England: Lens leads Ligue 1 with 10 set-piece goals, followed by PSG with 9.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have scored only 3 goals from set pieces (excluding penalties). If the Premier League ranked teams by "set-piece effectiveness," Liverpool might be at the bottom. Arne Slot admits his team could have earned 4 to 6 more points if they improved this statistic.

Liverpool have tried. They experimented with long throw-ins during preseason in Japan but abandoned the tactic due to lack of standout players besides Joe Gomez. The club also hired a dedicated set-piece coach before assigning the role to Aaron Briggs, a coach with an analytical background.

Ironically, since Briggs fully took charge of this area, Liverpool’s set-piece results have declined noticeably. This does not mean all responsibility lies with him, but in an era where Arsenal’s Nicolas Jover is praised as the "brain" behind set-piece goals, Liverpool’s lag in this area is inexcusable.

Arne Slot is right that open play remains football’s foundation. But in the fiercely competitive Premier League, treating set pieces as secondary means putting oneself at a disadvantage.

Liverpool can play well and create many chances, but one poorly defended corner can wipe out all efforts. As long as Liverpool keep "dying" from set pieces, they cannot dream big. In a league where every set piece can decide a season, Liverpool must change or accept being left behind.

Vu Manh

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