Arne Slot reveals key Liverpool set-piece change as unexpected stat emerges - 'We always knew we had to do better to compete with Arsenal'

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Arne Slot has acknowledged that refining Liverpool's set-piece productivity was essential to reigniting their domestic campaign, a focus that has paid dividends with no other Premier League side scoring more goals in 2026. The top flight has seen 27.5% of goals come from non-penalty set-pieces and Liverpool made a backroom change among their coaching staff in December to come up to scratch.

Surprised Slot explains how Liverpool have turned around set-piece hoodoo

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Arne Slot has said Liverpool needed to address their set-piece output in order to revive their domestic fortunes this season, with no other Premier League side having registered more goals in 2026.

Heading into Tuesday's trip to face Wolverhampton Wanderers - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - Slot's side had scored seven of their past nine league goals from set-pieces, five of them from corners, allowing the defending champions to strengthen their push for UEFA Champions League qualification next term.

In Saturday's 5-2 victory over West Ham, The Reds’ first three goals all came from dead-ball situations. It coincides with a decision from Slot and certain members of his coaching staff to take greater responsibility on the training ground.

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Speaking to TNT Sports on the touchline at Molineux, a smiling Slot posed the question: "Are we in 2026 the best team at set pieces?

"Okay, that's a nice thing to know. Maybe then it's not a coincidence that we won so many games, because from open play, we've always been the team that created the most chances.

"So, we always knew we had to do better in set pieces. There was a part of the season when we were 23 goals behind Arsenal - including penalties, by the way.

Liverpool's three opening goals against West Ham were from set pieces

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"Then it's impossible to compete with a team like that if you're so far away with set pieces. But we always knew that things would go back to reality because in the first half of the season we were, in my opinion, quite unlucky with set pieces.

"Recently, scoring three in one game is maybe a bit more luck. So the truth is probably in the middle, but that we are doing better, I can see as well."

Earlier in the campaign, Liverpool briefly held the unwanted distinction of possessing the worst set-piece record across Europe’s top five leagues.

Slot says Premier League is 'not a joy to watch' due to rise of set-piece goals

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The Premier League has seen 27.5% of goals this season come from non-penalty set-pieces - 215 of the 783 scored heading into the midweek round of fixtures - representing the second-highest rate since 2009/10.

Dutch pair Sipke Hulshoff and Giovanni van Bronckhorst are now working alongside Slot to devise routines after set-piece coach Aaron Briggs departed at the end of December.

In Liverpool's last three Premier League games, victories over Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and West Ham have each featured a decisive set-piece goal.

During his press conference on Monday, Slot described the rise in set-piece goals as the "new reality in the Premier League."

"You have to accept it," he said. "I think it's mainly here in the Premier League. If I watch other leagues I don't think there's so much emphasis on set-pieces.

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"If I watch an Eredivisie game, which I still do, I see goals being disallowed and fouls on goalkeepers being given and I think 'wow, that's a big difference'. Here, you can almost hit a goalkeeper in his face and the referee still says 'just go on'.

"Do I like it? My football heart doesn't like it. If you ask me about football, I think about the Barcelona team from 10, 15 years ago. Every Sunday evening you were hoping they would play.

"Now, most of the games I see in the Premier League are not for me a joy to watch but it's always interesting because it's so competitive.

"That is what makes this league great because there is so much competitiveness. Everyone can win against everyone. We aren't going to change it.

"I just wouldn't be surprised if you went to watch a Sunday League match now and the 16-year-olds were completely focused on set-pieces."

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