Liverpool transform set-piece record as Arne Slot adopts tactical trend

Liverpool have overhauled their set-piece strategy under Arne Slot to spark a dramatic turnaround in proficiency, highlighted by three corner goals against West Ham.

The Reds secured a comprehensive 5-2 victory over the Hammers at the weekend, with dead-ball situations proving decisive in the first half.

"Our setup is slightly different, but the biggest reason is that things have gone back to normal," Slot explained following the result.

This sudden effectiveness marks a significant shift for the Merseyside club.

Seven of Liverpool’s last nine Premier League goals have come from set-pieces, with five of those resulting specifically from corners.

It represents a stark contrast to the first half of the campaign, where the Anfield side briefly held the statistically worst set-play record across Europe’s top five leagues.

Coaching reshuffle at Anfield

The transformation coincides with a change in the backroom staff dynamic.

Following the departure of set-piece coach Aaron Briggs at the end of December, the club has opted against appointing an external replacement.

Instead, Slot has taken personal responsibility for the routines alongside his assistants Sipke Hulshoff and Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Lewis Mahoney, the club’s set-piece analyst, has also been afforded a more prominent voice in the tactical planning.

This collective approach has yielded immediate dividends, moving the team from the bottom of the rankings to one of the division’s elite in a matter of weeks.

Embracing the aerial bombardment

The tactical adjustment has seen the Dutch head coach embrace a league-wide trend toward inswinging deliveries.

While Slot admitted relying on such methods might hurt his "football heart", the pragmatic shift has been undeniable.

The Reds are now targeting the six-yard box to create chaos, a strategy notably mastered by title rivals Arsenal.

Premier League data indicates that 81% of corners are now inswingers, a sharp rise from previous seasonal averages of around 59%.

"If you can’t beat them, join them," appears to be the mantra, with offensive teams now placing an average of 3.25 players in the six-yard box.

This crowding tactic restricts goalkeepers and reduces the likelihood of them making clean contact with the ball.

Liverpool were considered late adopters of this heavy-traffic approach but have now fully integrated the method into their attacking armoury.

The recent uptick suggests that accepting the Premier League’s physical reality is the most sustainable path forward for Slot’s tenure.