Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has been discussing the importance of set-pieces in the Premier League after signs of improvement from his side from dead-ball situations
Arne Slot speaks to the media before Liverpool's FA Cup clash with Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on Saturday
Arne Slot speaks to the media before Liverpool's FA Cup clash with Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on Saturday
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Arne Slot has praised the renewed attacking threat of Virgil van Dijk as he again highlighted the importance of set-pieces in the Premier League. Van Dijk netted his second goal in five outings when heading in Mohamed Salah's corner for the winner in the 1-0 triumph at Sunderland on Wednesday evening.
The Reds skipper's similar strike at Bournemouth last month was Liverpool's first goal from a corner all season, with the defending champions having become an increasing threat from dead-ball situations with six in their last eight games in all competitions.
And Slot said: “It is vital Virgil scored one against Bournemouth and has already scored a few important goals for us from set-pieces so he is a big threat in the air offensively and defensively he is really important for us not to concede.
"I hope he will score many more from us from set-pieces this season."
While the Reds were until recently among the least effective teams in the Premier League from set-pieces, they have notched by far the most from such situations in the Champions League.
"I would almost say in the current Premier League it is the only attribute you should have, doing set-pieces," said Slot on Friday.
"Yesterday I again watched a game (Brentford's 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal) where set-pieces were almost part of everything that happened during the game.
"Has my opinion on set-pieces changed this season? My first thought through my head was 'no' because I have always said it is almost impossible to win a big game with a negative set-piece balance and in the Premier League every game is a big game considering the strength of the league, but looking where the league has gone to I should maybe not say 'no' I should say 'yes'.
"I cannot stop talking about the importance of set-pieces, it is every single day it is so obvious. You have have asked multiple times what the difference is between our Champions League and Premier League performances; the most simple answer is set-pieces because in the Champions League we are top and in the Premier League we are completely bottom and that reflects in the league table as well.
"The current Premier League is so much more about set-pieces than last season, even though it was very, very, very important it has now gone through the roof in terms of how important it is.
"It is impossible to win the league if you have a set-piece balance like ours. You need 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."
Van Dijk is likely to remain in the Liverpool starting line-up for Saturday's FA Cup fourth round clash at home to Brighton having featured for every minute this season besides the Reds' two League Cup ties.
No player has featured more for Slot's side this campaign than the 34-year-old, who has started all bar one Premier League game since the Dutchman was appointed in the summer of 2024.
“He has been fit every time and I've said before how big of an accomplishment that is for a player of his age because he's not the youngest any more and players every three days," said Slot.
"But that's not a coincidence because if I look at how much work he puts in on a daily basis to recover and be ready for the next, immediately when the game finishes until the moment the next game starts, and it's always harder to stay fit when you have a team – and he as well – has so many setbacks.
"It tells you what he does off the pitch for recovery but also his mental strength that he is not only able to stay with the team but also bringing in very good performances and lead the lead as he always does and lead the team on and off the pitch by example and that is also what he did on Wednesday night."
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