Liverpool is grappling with a significant issue in front of goal, having scored just three goals from set-pieces in the Premier League this season, resulting in a league-worst difference of minus nine.
Set-piece Struggles Plague Liverpool’s Campaign
The Reds’ manager and key players acknowledge a need for improvement in converting opportunities from dead-ball situations.
- Liverpool’s set-piece conversion rate is considerably below par.
- Manager Arne Slot emphasizes the importance of resilience even when facing setbacks.
- Virgil van Dijk points to a mental aspect and the need for consistent training.
- Recent wins offer a glimmer of progress, but ample improvement is required.
The team’s recent form, including a third consecutive league win that propelled them to fourth in the table, hasn’t masked the underlying problem. Manager Arne Slot acknowledged the team’s difficulties, stating, “Regrettably we’re maybe the only team that hardly ever scores from a set-piece and, even worse, we constantly concede.”
What’s causing Liverpool’s set-piece woes? According to Slot,it’s a multifaceted issue. He added, “But then, I think I said two, three or four weeks ago, we have to make sure that when things go against us – it might very well be a set-piece, it could be other things – we still need to find a way to win.”
Van Dijk echoed the manager’s sentiment, highlighting the importance of mental fortitude. “Is it a mental thing? I hope not. If that’s in your head then it’s an issue. Personally, it’s not in my head,” he said. He also pinpointed the specific phase of play causing the most trouble: “It’s something we have to improve. I would say at least 75% of the time or even more, it’s not even about the first contact. it’s the second phase that is the killer.”
despite conceding from set-pieces in the last two games, Liverpool managed to secure victories, a development Slot views as positive. “In the last two games we conceded from a set-piece but we were able to win and that hasn’t happened many times this season. That’s progress for me, but it’s obvious there are more things for us to improve and this is definitely one of them.”
Van Dijk emphasized the team’s dedication to addressing the issue. “We have defended so many set-pieces very well. But we’ve conceded too many goals like that and it hurts. We have to improve that. Training is the only way to get better at it,” he explained. “It’s not been good enough. We all realise that. We have spoken about it. We
