Van Dijk Dominates Despite Liverpool’s Alarming Set-Piece Struggles
Despite boasting one of the Premier League’s most physically imposing players, Liverpool are facing a concerning trend: a porous defense from set-pieces. Through the first 15 matches of the 2025/26 Premier League season, the Reds have conceded 24 goals overall, with a troubling 10 coming directly from corners, free-kicks, and throw-ins – a record matched by West Ham United and Nottingham Forest as the joint-worst in the league.
The situation has prompted scrutiny of Liverpool’s central defensive pairing, with both first-choice players facing questions about their recent form. Concerns have been voiced regarding Ibrahima Konate’s performances, while even the usually reliable Virgil van Dijk has come under the microscope as supporters search for answers.
However, emerging statistics and a surprising endorsement suggest that Van Dijk may not be the primary culprit in Liverpool’s defensive woes. When tasked with assembling his ideal player on Spurs’ official TikTok account, rising star Xavi Simons emphatically selected the Liverpool defender as the strongest player he has ever seen. This assessment is backed by data from Fbref, which reveals that Van Dijk has won a league-leading 81 aerial duels this season – more than any other player in the Premier League.
While the spotlight initially fell on Van Dijk, the numbers indicate that his partner, Konate, is also performing well in the air. The Frenchman has secured 51 aerial duels, placing him fourth in the top-flight, behind only Sepp van den Berg and James Tarkowski. This raises the question: if both center-backs are statistically strong in aerial battles, where is the breakdown occurring?
New Liverpool manager Arne Slot appears equally perplexed by the issue. Following a recent draw with Leeds United, Slot acknowledged the severity of the problem, stating, “I don’t think there’s any team in the world that can be in a higher league position than we are if you concede 10 set-pieces. Then it’s hardly possible to be in a higher position or having more points than we have if you concede so many of those.” He further emphasized the continuity of the team’s setup, adding, “For me, it’s not the set-up, because it’s the same set-up as we had last season where we hardly conceded — or didn’t concede at all, in the first half of the season. In this set-up there are a lot of similar players that are mainly important. So, tell me what it is. If I tell you now it’s bad luck, then you will probably say that’s a bit too much after 15 games.”
The ongoing struggle with set-piece defense presents a significant challenge for Slot and Liverpool as they navigate the remainder of the season. Despite possessing arguably the league’s strongest player in Virgil van Dijk, addressing this vulnerability will be crucial to unlocking their full potential and climbing the Premier League table.
