Arne Slot praised Liverpool’s effectiveness from set-pieces after their 1-0 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. “Typically, we concede one, but tonight we were able to score, and that’s what made the difference in this match,” he stated during the press conference.
Virgil van Dijk’s header from a Mohamed Salah corner in the second half marked Liverpool’s third goal from a corner in their last four Premier League matches. Nevertheless, their total of four goals this season still ranks as the fifth-lowest in the league.
Slot pointed to the missed opportunities on set-pieces in tight games earlier this season, referring to their draws with newly-promoted sides like Leeds and Burnley. What has changed for Liverpool?
Adopting Inswinging Corners
Their recent success in corners is not just a coincidence but reflects a significant shift in strategy. Before last month’s loss to Bournemouth, where they scored their first of three recent corner goals, Liverpool had the lowest percentage of inswinging deliveries in the league at 49.4%, far below the average of around 70%.
Since then, their inswinging delivery rate has surged to 82.5%, with 28 of 34 corners taken against Bournemouth, Newcastle, Manchester City, and Sunderland being inswingers. This tactical change, which coincided with the departure of set-piece coach Aaron Briggs in December, has clearly paid off: Liverpool scored three times from 34 corners compared to just one from 117 earlier in the season.
Notably, even the sole goal from before this tactical shift—scored by Hugo Ekitike from a Salah inswinger in the Brighton match—demonstrated the effectiveness of this strategy, which facilitates closer-range shots from within the six-yard box.
Focusing on the Six-Yard Box
It’s not just about targeting specific zones but also about how those areas are occupied. More Premier League teams are now filling the six-yard box during attacking corners to enhance their chances of winning headers while simultaneously complicating the goalkeeper’s task of catching or clearing the ball.
This strategy, termed the “meat wall” by analyst Michael Caley, has proven effective for teams like Arsenal and has now been embraced by Liverpool. Van Dijk was one of five players crowding the six-yard box when he scored against Sunderland. Liverpool’s systematic approach meant they had a minimum of three players consistently positioned in Sunderland’s six-yard box during their corners.
The effectiveness of the new strategy was evident leading up to Van Dijk’s goal, as Liverpool generated numerous opportunities from corners, making defense a challenge for Sunderland, culminating in a decisive goal.
In conclusion, under Slot’s guidance, Liverpool has transformed a previously weak area into one of strength, reflecting a broader trend across the Premier League where teams increasingly target the six-yard box during corners, seeking greater success in set-piece situations.
