Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot has mentioned it’s “truly inconceivable” to win the Premier League with “a set-piece stability like ours”.
The Reds took the title in type in Slot’s first season in England in 2024/25 however face a problem to qualify for the Champions League this time round, having faltered badly after profitable every of their first seven matches of this marketing campaign in all competitions.
“I can’t cease speaking in regards to the significance of set-pieces,” added Slot, whose aspect are sixth with 12 league video games remaining and host Brighton & Hove Albion within the FA Cup fourth spherical on Saturday. “It’s each single day.”
Evaluation: Liverpool’s set piece report this season
When the Premier League paused for the most recent spherical of the FA Cup, Liverpool had been outscored at set-pieces by 9 groups.
Their whole of eight league objectives by way of the strategy places them degree with Fulham. Notably, solely backside aspect Wolves (4) have scored fewer set-piece objectives than second-placed Manchester Metropolis, who’re difficult leaders Arsenal to succeed Liverpool as champions.
Tellingly, Arsenal have scored three extra set-piece objectives (16) than some other workforce, with Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United their next-nearest opponents in that respect.
Liverpool have by far the bottom proportion of anticipated objectives from set items (14.95%), are third-lowest for proportion of objectives from set items (19.51%) and have the second-lowest variety of objectives from lifeless balls (6.34).
Solely Bournemouth (16) have a worse report than their whole of 14 set-piece objectives conceded, whereas solely Crystal Palace (40.63%) have shipped a larger proportion of set-piece objectives than Liverpool (40%).
Why Arne Slot says set piece stats have gone ‘via roof’
Talking earlier than the sport towards the Seagulls, Slot mentioned the distinction between Liverpool’s fortunes on this season’s Premier League and Champions League comes all the way down to their struggles at set-pieces.
“The most straightforward reply is set-pieces as a result of within the Champions League we’re high in set-pieces and within the Premier League we’re fully backside,” the Dutchman claimed.
“That displays within the league desk as properly. The present Premier League is so, so, a lot extra about set-pieces than it was final season.
“Despite the fact that I already discovered it essential, it has now gone via the roof when it comes to how necessary it’s.
“It’s truly inconceivable to win the league when you’ve got a set-piece stability like ours. It’s important to have plus 5, six, seven, eight, 9, 10 – it doesn’t matter what you do in open play – to have an opportunity to win the league.”
Slot was talking a day after one of many groups with a devoted set-piece coach, Brentford, scored from an extended throw-in to earn some extent at house to Arsenal.
“I once more watched a sport by which set-pieces had been virtually a part of every part that occurred through the sport,” Slot mentioned of the 1-1 draw. Gunners counterpart Mikel Arteta underlined Brentford’s set-piece power after the competition.
How have Liverpool fared within the 2025/26 Champions League?
The Reds gained 5 of their remaining six matches within the league section on their option to qualifying mechanically in third place for the final 16 within the Champions League.
They’ve saved clear sheets in 4 of their final 5 European video games, beating Qarabag, Marseille, Inter and Actual Madrid in these victories.
Solely table-toppers Arsenal (19) and second-placed Bayern Munich (14) completed with a larger optimistic objective distinction than Liverpool (12).
The place are Liverpool’s set-piece strengths? Van Dijk ‘very important’
Slot mentioned that “doing set-pieces properly” is the “solely attribute you need to have” this season within the Premier League and praised captain Virgil van Dijk’s menace.
“It’s very important that he has already scored a couple of objectives for us this season – and positively final season – from set-pieces,” Slot mirrored.
“He’s a giant menace within the air offensively and defensively. He’s necessary for us to not concede. He’s very important and I hope he’ll rating many extra for us from set-pieces this season.”
Each of Van Dijk’s league objectives this season have are available Liverpool’s final two away video games, shedding 3-2 to Bournemouth and beating Sunderland 1-0.
The Netherlands worldwide’s two Champions League objectives got here through the first three matches on this season’s competitors, scoring within the 3-2 house win over Atletico Madrid and 5-1 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt.
What’s subsequent for Liverpool? Fixtures, schedule
Liverpool can have an opportunity to enhance upon their set-piece report at house to Albion on Saturday (20:00 GMT).
Brighton conceded from a nook within the 86th minute of their 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Wednesday, leaving them on one victory from their final 13 league matches, though they gained 2-1 at Manchester United within the FA Cup third spherical.
Liverpool return to league motion away to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on February 22 (14:00).
