Get ready for a thrilling tale of transformation! Liverpool's set-piece game has undergone a remarkable evolution, and we're about to dive into the secrets behind their success.
The Premier League's set-piece revolution has arrived, and Liverpool are leading the charge!
Arne Slot, the mastermind behind this turnaround, offers an insightful explanation: "Our approach is unique, but the key lies in embracing the league's new normal." And embrace it they did!
In a stunning reversal, Liverpool's set-pieces have gone from their worst to one of the best in a matter of weeks. Seven out of their last nine Premier League goals have come from set-pieces, with five of those being corner goals.
But here's where it gets controversial... Slot, while initially resistant, has now taken charge of set-play commands, joining forces with his coaching assistants. And this is the part most people miss: the departure of set-piece coach Aaron Briggs seems to have coincided with this dead-ball efficiency.
The league-wide trend is clear: inswinging corners are the new norm, and teams are targeting the six-yard box for maximum chaos. Arsenal leads the way, and Liverpool, though late to the party, has caught up.
Offensive teams are now placing an average of 3.25 players in the six-yard box, up from 2.51 last season. This has forced defensive teams to deploy 7.33 players in the same area, creating a highly congested space.
On corners, 81% are now inswingers, a significant increase from previous seasons. For Liverpool, this strategy has paid dividends, especially for players like Virgil van Dijk and Hugo Ekitike.
In their recent win against West Ham, all three corner goals were scored with inswinging crosses. The opposition's defensive lapses certainly helped, but Liverpool's strategy was evident.
Mateus Fernandes even admitted post-match that they had worked on a plan to stop Van Dijk, but to no avail.
This improvement isn't a fluke; it's a trend that has been building for weeks. Simple movement and positional intelligence, exemplified by Ekitike, have been key to their success.
When Liverpool's primary passer, Florian Wirtz, is unavailable, it becomes crucial for their striker, Ekitike, to be a set-play threat. Especially considering they generate the fourth-highest number of corner kicks in the division.
So, what do you think? Is Liverpool's set-piece success a result of their subtle tweaks, or is there more to it? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Remember, in football, as in life, sometimes you have to adapt to thrive.
