Liverpool’s emphatic 5-2 win over West Ham United not only highlighted how they are still very much in the top five race, but also how they have completed a remarkable turnaround in the season. The Reds extended their run to seven straight Premier League goals from dead-ball situations at Anfield, the longest streak in the competition’s history, with three goals from set pieces on Saturday afternoon. Once a clear weakness, it is now one of their greatest attacking weapons.
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Liverpool Have Turned Dead-Ball Woes into Goals
Coaching Changes Spark a Transformation
Due to disappointing results, Liverpool dismissed their set-piece coach, Aaron Briggs, earlier in the campaign. There were few scoring opportunities, clumsy deliveries, and poor organisation. The transformation has been prominent since that alteration. Liverpool now uses timing, purpose, and refined movement when attacking corners and free kicks. In sharp contrast to earlier in the season, players control important areas and often win first contact inside the six-yard box.
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West Ham even made an effort to counter the danger. Hammers defender Mateus Fernandes told Sky Sports that the team had spent a week devising a strategy to stop Virgil van Dijk in the box. However, the strategy failed, highlighting Liverpool’s increasing lethality from set pieces. Dominik Szoboszlai’s incredible long-range free kicks of late have also been influential in their newfound improvement of set pieces.
Confidence Replacing Hesitation
The shift is psychological as well as statistical. The Reds now have a consistent source of goals when open play stalls, whereas previously, they had trouble holding onto leads. Dead-ball routines have created a sense of momentum and expectation in place of uncertainty. After the game, Cody Gakpo gave some thought to the impact, pointing out how crucial it is for a team to have options for scoring from set pieces:
“In some games, when the game is stuck and you know you can score from a set piece – which we lacked in other moments – it’s very important.”
Still Work to Do, But the Difference is Clear
Set-piece defensive errors still occur, but the danger is greatly outweighed by the offensive comeback. Smart coaching adjustments and disciplined execution lead to sharper movements, clearly defined roles, and purposeful deliveries.
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Liverpool’s transition from a season-long weakness to one of the Premier League’s most potent set-piece threats illustrates how focused coaching can totally reframe a team’s strengths. They continue to be unconvincing at times defensively and even attacking-wise as of late, but their excellent run of converting set pieces is certainly a big boost
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