WHAT IS GOING WRONG WITH LIVERPOOL'S TERRIBLE SET-PIECE RECORD?
Liverpool has given up more set-play goals (12) this season than any other side in the major five leagues in Europe. It's now Arne Slot's worst enemy.
This season, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Brentford, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Tottenham, and most recently Wolves have all managed to take advantage of this vulnerability. Some more than once. Slot referred to set-pieces as an "add-on" before visiting Wolves over the weekend and giving up a corner. Given how the Premier League has changed in recent years, he is likely among the few head coaches who still hold that opinion. Many would contend that they are now essential.
Without a doubt, Liverpool's set-piece balance at both ends of the pitch is far from what it needs to be to contend for a spot in the top four. Slot's team would be at the bottom of the league if net goals from set plays were a gauge.
This season, only West Ham (10) has given up more corners than Liverpool (7), a pace that Slot has described as "close to ridiculous". Liverpool has faced 85 corners so far this season, which puts them in the middle of the standings and translates to a goal about every 12 corner kicks. With 114 games played, the Hammers are giving up goals on average every 11. Arsenal, the league leaders, have only had to defend 55.
Strangely, though, Liverpool isn't always giving up through traditional means. As captain Virgil van Dijk said on Saturday, they never lose to the first contact, which explains their low xG in the graphic below and indicates an issue with the second phase. He referred to Liverpool's inability to handle the second defensive phase as a "killer," indicating that when the ball gets loose within the penalty area or is recycled by the other team, they are not quick enough to react.
Although Bruno Fernandes' cross is in the second phase of a corner after Bryan Mbeumo's initial delivery was blocked, Harry Maguire's late goal for Manchester United at Anfield in October is actually the only time Liverpool has lost straight from a header, or beaten to the first contact.
None of the white shirts with markers is in the queue at the rear post.
It implies that free headers at the goal are being stopped by the initial structure, where some players are marking touch tight and others zonally, but the subsequent phase is not addressed. This is caused by several reasons, but a cursory glance will reveal that Liverpool is too fast to turn off. Being non-aggressive is also not beneficial.
The others should be ready to win the next clash if Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are expected to dominate aerially by attacking deliveries. Most of the time, they are not in a position to do so, giving opposing players too much room or going completely undetected.
Similar circumstances occurred against Wolves, when up to five Liverpool defenders were on the wrong side of the play and Santi Bueno was free to poke past Alisson. Bueno scored by having unrestricted access to the six-yard box. That was not the only time this season that Konate and Van Dijk failed to make first contact at all. Tanaka sat out by the back post against Leeds earlier this month, and he just poked home a stoppage-time level as everyone in red was drawn towards the ball by a lofted corner. On New Year's Day, live on Sky Sports, Liverpool will host Leeds in the second leg.
Slot needs to understand that, to avoid such shortcomings spreading over the remainder of their season, defensive reinforcements in January are essential in addition to a more comprehensive plan. The need for both cannot be avoided.