Liverpool manager Arne Slot has said it is “actually impossible” to win the Premier League with “a set-piece balance like ours”.
The Reds took the title in style in Slot’s first season in England in 2024/25 but face a challenge to qualify for the Champions League this time around, having faltered badly after winning each of their first seven matches of this campaign in all competitions.
“I cannot stop talking about the importance of set-pieces,” added Slot, whose side are sixth with 12 league games remaining and host Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday. “It’s every single day.”
Analysis: Liverpool’s set piece record this season
When the Premier League paused for the latest round of the FA Cup, Liverpool had been outscored at set-pieces by nine teams.
Their total of eight league goals via the method puts them level with Fulham. Notably, only bottom side Wolves (4) have scored fewer set-piece goals than second-placed Manchester City, who are challenging leaders Arsenal to succeed Liverpool as champions.
Tellingly, Arsenal have scored three more set-piece goals (16) than any other team, with Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United their next-nearest competitors in that respect.
Liverpool have by far the lowest percentage of expected goals from set pieces (14.95%), are third-lowest for proportion of goals from set pieces (19.51%) and have the second-lowest number of goals from dead balls (6.34).
Only Bournemouth (16) have a worse record than their total of 14 set-piece goals conceded, while only Crystal Palace (40.63%) have shipped a greater proportion of set-piece goals than Liverpool (40%).
Why Arne Slot says set piece stats have gone ‘through roof’
Speaking before the game against the Seagulls, Slot said the difference between Liverpool’s fortunes in this season’s Premier League and Champions League comes down to their struggles at set-pieces.
“The most simple answer is set-pieces because in the Champions League we are top in set-pieces and in the Premier League we are completely bottom,” the Dutchman claimed.
“That reflects in the league table as well. The current Premier League is so, so, so much more about set-pieces than it was last season.
“Even though I already found it very important, it has now gone through the roof in terms of how important it is.
“It is actually impossible to win the league if you have a set-piece balance like ours. You have to have plus five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 – no matter what you do in open play – to have a chance to win the league.”
Slot was speaking a day after one of the teams with a dedicated set-piece coach, Brentford, scored from a long throw-in to earn a point at home to Arsenal.
“I again watched a game in which set-pieces were almost part of everything that happened during the game,” Slot said of the 1-1 draw. Gunners counterpart Mikel Arteta underlined Brentford’s set-piece strength after the contest.
How have Liverpool fared in the 2025/26 Champions League?
The Reds won five of their final six matches in the league phase on their way to qualifying automatically in third place for the last 16 in the Champions League.
They have kept clean sheets in four of their last five European games, beating Qarabag, Marseille, Inter and Real Madrid in those victories.
Only table-toppers Arsenal (19) and second-placed Bayern Munich (14) finished with a greater positive goal difference than Liverpool (12).
Where are Liverpool’s set-piece strengths? Van Dijk ‘vital’
Slot said that “doing set-pieces well” is the “only attribute you should have” this season in the Premier League and praised captain Virgil van Dijk’s threat.
“It’s vital that he has already scored a few goals for us this season – and definitely last season – from set-pieces,” Slot reflected.
“He’s a big threat in the air offensively and defensively. He’s important for us not to concede. He’s vital and I hope he will score many more for us from set-pieces this season.”
Both of Van Dijk’s league goals this season have come in Liverpool’s last two away games, losing 3-2 to Bournemouth and beating Sunderland 1-0.
The Netherlands international’s two Champions League goals came during the first three matches in this season’s competition, scoring in the 3-2 home win over Atletico Madrid and 5-1 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt.
What’s next for Liverpool? Fixtures, schedule
Liverpool will have a chance to improve upon their set-piece record at home to Albion on Saturday (20:00 GMT).
Brighton conceded from a corner in the 86th minute of their 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Wednesday, leaving them on one victory from their last 13 league matches, although they won 2-1 at Manchester United in the FA Cup third round.
Liverpool return to league action away to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on February 22 (14:00).
