Expert reveals the key improvement Arne Slot’s side has made this season | OneFootball

Liverpool Set Pieces: Key Improvement in a Challenging Season

In a season where consistency has eluded Liverpool, one area has shown tangible growth, set pieces. On the Anfield Index podcast, Michael Reid joined Dave Davis to analyse the numbers, and this was one of the few segments where optimism replaced concern.

Reid pointed directly to the turnaround since earlier in the campaign. “When I last came on in November, Liverpool had conceded seven from set pieces and scored one in the Premier League,” he explained. That imbalance underlined a major weakness at the time.

The shift since then has been dramatic. “What we’re now at is we’ve scored 13… and we’ve conceded 15,” Reid added, illustrating a significant improvement in output, even if defensive issues remain in the broader context.

Set piece turnaround driving Liverpool results

The most compelling evidence of Liverpool’s progress lies in recent performances. Reid highlighted a sharp upturn in 2026, stating, “in 2026, we scored 10 and conceded three. So in 2026 numbers are fantastic from set pieces.”

That improvement has translated directly into points on the pitch. As Reid outlined, “you look at the West Ham game, three goals from corners put us 3-0 up. It ultimately won us the game.” These are not marginal gains, they are decisive contributions.

He continued with further examples, “the Forest game… it wins us the game in the end. Sunderland, Van Dijk from a corner wins us the game.” The pattern is clear, Liverpool’s set pieces are no longer a weakness but a reliable source of goals.

Even near misses reinforce the trend. Reid noted, “Soberly got the free kick against Tottenham that should have won us the game,” underlining how frequently these situations are now producing meaningful chances.

Coaching impact behind Liverpool improvement

Credit for this improvement has not been handed out lightly, but Reid was clear in his assessment of the coaching staff. “That’s where we can praise Slot and the coaching staff. Absolutely. They’ve seen a weakness in the team there and sorted that one out.”

This is particularly significant given the earlier struggles in this area. Reid offered important context, saying of the previous setup, “it sort of feels like he was shoehorned into a role he had no experience in… it didn’t work out.”

The response since then has been both swift and effective. Even when isolating certain elements, the numbers remain strong. “Even if you take away the direct free kicks, it would still be seven scored, three conceded,” Reid explained, reinforcing that this is a sustainable improvement rather than a statistical anomaly.

Photo: IMAGO

Liverpool reliance on set pieces raises bigger questions

While the improvement is undeniable, it also raises questions about Liverpool’s overall attacking structure. The reliance on set pieces reflects broader issues in open play, something Reid alludes to throughout the discussion.

Despite that, he acknowledges their importance in keeping Liverpool competitive. “The one thing that has sort of kept us in the Champions League push has been the improvement in the set piece numbers recently,” he said.

This duality defines Liverpool’s season. Structural problems remain, yet set pieces have provided a foundation. In tight matches, they have often been the difference between dropping points and securing wins.

Ultimately, while Liverpool continue to search for fluency in open play, their evolution in set pieces offers a clear blueprint for how targeted coaching and tactical focus can yield immediate results.