Liverpool now has 'worst in Europe' record with Arne Slot under pressure to find solution

Liverpool's record from set-pieces this season has come under a lot of scrutiny, and Arne Slot won't be too happy to hear just how badly his side ranks among Europe's top teams

Arne Slot is struggling to find a solution to Liverpool's set-piece problems(Image: Getty Images)

It’s official. Liverpool is the worst team in Europe’s biggest leagues when it comes to set-pieces.

Much has been made about the Reds’ problems from set-plays this season, with their issues clear to see once again at the weekend during the 2-1 win over Wolves. Despite going in at the break with what seemed to be a comfortable two-goal advantage, Liverpool was made to sweat when the visitors pulled a goal back in the second half, with Santiago Bueno poking the ball home after yet more slack defending at a corner.

And the Premier League’s bottom side is far from the only team to have taken advantage of a problem that Arne Slot seemingly can’t find a solution to.

Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Brentford, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Leeds and Tottenham have also managed to exploit the Reds’ weakness. In fact, as Sky Sports points out, no team in Europe’s big five leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1) has conceded more set-piece goals than Liverpool’s 12 this season.

Only West Ham (10) has conceded more times from corners than the Reds’ seven so far, although the rate at which they concede from them is actually worse. Liverpool has faced 85 corners this season, compared to the Hammers facing 114.

It is a problem that has frustrated Slot throughout the season, and the Liverpool boss is coming under increasing pressure to find a solution - especially given how his side’s title defense already looks to have fallen by the wayside.

Aaron Briggs, who joined Slot’s backroom staff upon his arrival at Anfield in 2024, was appointed as the Reds’ set-piece coach in September, having previously held the position of first-team individual development coach.

But the appointment hasn’t worked out so far, with Liverpool’s record at set-pieces clearly getting worse, leading captain Virgil van Dijk to speak out on the issues.

"There have been plenty of games when we have defended [set-pieces] very well," Van Dijk said after the win over Wolves. "But the fact is, we've conceded too many set-piece goals and we don't score enough.

Virgil van Dijk has bemoaned Liverpool's record from set-pieces(Image: Carl Recine, Getty Images)

"It's about repetition, training, analysing... it's something we have to improve. I'd say at least 75 per cent of the time or even more, it's not even about the first contact, it's the second phase that is the killer.

"Is it a mental thing? I hope not. If that's in your head then it's an issue. Personally, it's not in my head. We have defended so many set-pieces very well.

"But the fact is we've conceded too many goals like that and it hurts. We have to improve that. Training is the only way to get better at it."