Arne Slot reveals importance of Joe Gomez in improving Liverpool record

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot praised Joe Gomez in the aftermath of his side's win over West Ham United in the Premier League, where set-pieces proved the vital

Joe Gomez looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool and West Ham United.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool used set-pieces to its benefit to beat West Ham United this weekend, with Virgil van Dijk among those to head home from dead balls at Anfield.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah swung in some dangerous deliveries to ensure that Arne Slot's men got a vital three points over the line, and the Reds boss was delighted with the newfound success in that area.

So far in this calendar year, Liverpool has scored more goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties) than anyone else in the Premier League. And Slot picked out Joe Gomez as one reason for the additional firepower in that department post-match.

"He works so hard to be fit and stay fit and every time he has a setback, it is so disappointing for him and for us," Slot said. "Because of how professional he is, but even more because of the person he is.

"Playing with a right full-back that can also play as a center-back also means you have aerial threats in — what I am saying for the 500th time — set pieces."

Slot was asked to expand on why Liverpool did so well from corners, with West Ham typically seen as a side that is strong in the air from inswinging crosses.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: Liverpool manager Arne Slot looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion on February 14, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)

"That’s very pleasing," he said when asked about his team's newfound prowess from set-pieces.

"First of all, because that’s the reason why we won [and] second of all, because when I was just standing around, your colleagues said, ‘Well played, well played,’ and I said, ‘In my opinion, we’ve played better this season.’

"We played OK to good — so, we were OK to good, but it wasn’t the best game of the season. We’ve played better when we’ve lost [and] we’ve played better when we conceded set-pieces.

"But as I always said, things went back to normal. We created quite a lot of chances from set-pieces in the first part of the season and almost every set-piece we conceded went in, and today you could see exactly the opposite happening.

"I think one of their first big chances was a set-piece that would have gone in in the first six or seven months [of the season], 100 per cent sure.

"But now we did it and we start scoring from set-pieces and then things look much brighter and better than when you don’t, and that’s really pleasing for us, for the team and for our fans as well."

Liverpool.com says: Gomez was a very steady and reliable performer at Anfield. He is never going to do that much exciting in the final third, but that wasn't required here. He provided a platform for those in front to perform.