Recent performances at Anfield have shown a strong resurgence for Liverpool, who secured four consecutive wins and maintained an unbeaten streak across seven matches in all competitions. Their three back-to-back victories in the Premier League have resulted in more points than the eight they collected from their previous ten league outings.
Liverpool’s Performance in Set Pieces
Despite their recent success, Liverpool has struggled in certain areas, particularly when facing set pieces. Their latest match saw them narrowly defeat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1, yet concerns surrounding defensive weaknesses were highlighted again. Santiago Bueno’s goal for Wolves originated from a corner—a reminder of Liverpool’s persistent vulnerabilities.
This season, Liverpool has conceded 12 goals from set pieces, making them the top-ranked team for goals allowed from this situation, aside from penalties. Only West Ham United has conceded more from corners, totaling seven, whereas last season, Liverpool hadn’t conceded any corner goals at this stage.
Leeds United’s Set-Piece Threat
In the upcoming fixture against Leeds United, Liverpool faces an additional challenge. Leeds’s offensive performance includes scoring 12 goals from non-penalty set-pieces, second only to Manchester United, who have netted 13. This presents a significant threat to Liverpool, who have only scored three goals from non-penalty set-pieces themselves.
Key Statistics
| Statistic | Liverpool | Leeds United |
|---|---|---|
| Goals conceded from set pieces | 12 | — |
| Goals scored from non-penalty set pieces | 3 | 12 |
| Goals conceded from corners | 7 | — |
This 9-goal deficit between set-piece goals allowed and scored marks the worst in the Premier League for the current season. Following these observations, set-piece coach Aaron Briggs parted ways with the club this week. Team captain Virgil van Dijk has acknowledged the impact of these issues, stating, “We’ve conceded too many set-piece goals and we don’t score enough.” This sentiment encapsulates Liverpool’s need for improvement in both their defensive and offensive strategies during set-piece situations.
