Liverpool handing Arsenal advantage with set-piece struggles

The Reds' weakness in set-pieces relative to their rivals was underlined again as the Premier League title race shifted over the weekend.

Photo: IMAGO | Anfield Index

Perhaps it is unfair to pose questions over Liverpool’s set-piece prowess just six Premier League games into the tenure of a new team tasked with improving them.

But then the spotlight was always going to be thrown onto that aspect of the Reds’ game after it proved key to them coming out on the wrong side of a small shift in the title race over the weekend.

Although few could argue with the deserved nature of the goals, the fact is that Arne Slot’s side lost to Crystal Palace as the result of two set-piece strikes, with one coming from a corner and the other a throw-in.

Then, just over 24 hours later, their rivals Arsenal turned a potential defeat at Newcastle into a 2-1 win courtesy of two goals from corners (albeit having conceded one themselves).

The result was a three-point swing that leaves the Gunners just two behind Slot’s leaders at the summit.

And watching Mikel Arteta’s men, it was hard not to wonder how useful it might be for Liverpool to be able to nick such cheap goals on a regular basis, particularly in tight games.

Thus far this season, the Reds’ only set-piece strike in the Premier League is Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunner against Arsenal, which is not exactly the sort of repeatable routine you aim for.

They have also conceded four from set-pieces, leaving West Ham (seven) as the only top-flight side with a worse record at this point.

Slot regularly discusses the need for “set-piece balance” (scoring as many as you concede) and his team are falling well short of that expectation currently.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are now up to a league-leading seven goals for, with just two conceded at the other end.

Of course, this also throws up questions around sustainability given they have scored 12 times in total, with a penalty and a seriously questionable four open-play goals completing their tally.

But if Liverpool were even half as effective as their rivals in scoring from set-pieces, then their superiority in open play would likely mean there wouldn’t be much of a title race again this season.