Phil Thompson spots Liverpool 'weapon' as Arne Slot notices change

Liverpool utilized a new weapon to great effect against Nottingham Forest, with the Reds having changed their fortunes from set-pieces after a big change to Arne Slot's staff

Arne Slot has noticed a change in Liverpool's fortunes from set-pieces(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool may well have added a new weapon to its armory this season after a big change in Arne Slot’s backroom staff.

The Reds boosted their Champions League hopes on Sunday with a last-gasp win over Nottingham Forest, courtesy of Alexis Mac Allister’s goal - although Slot can take some credit, with his changes helping to turn the tide of what seemed to be an inevitable goalless draw.

Rio Ngumoha has been praised for his impact off the bench at the City Ground, but it’s not just the teenager who had an effect, with Joe Gomez’s introduction also seeing Liverpool employ a strategy that has often worked against it this season.

The defender’s long throws were utilized well, with one of his launches into the penalty area almost resulting in a Mac Allister winner just before the clock hit 90, only for VAR to intervene.

And though it was a more conventional throw that resulted in the eventual winner a few minutes later, Gomez may well have given Liverpool another option for the remainder of the season as it looks to beat Manchester United and Chelsea to a place in the Champions League.

“The thing about it with Joe Gomez, one of the big pluses today was the long throws towards the end of the game,” club legend Phil Thompson said on The Official Liverpool FC Podcast after the game. “As we’ve seen against us, very much a weapon.

Joe Gomez's introduction against Nottingham Forest helped turn the tide for Liverpool(Image: 2026 MB Media)

“I think with Joe you see Virgil [van Dijk] and Ibou [Konate] going up, so they must have confidence in him to get the ball to that six-yard box. Right or wrong, it adds a little bit of pressure and it causes more problems.

“It’s a weapon that other clubs have used so why shouldn’t we? And Joe brings that.”

The introduction of Gomez’s long throws comes after a shake-up in Liverpool’s approach to set-pieces, having previously been the holder of the worst record from set-plays in Europe’s biggest leagues.

Aaron Briggs departed as the club’s set-piece specialist, and the club’s fortunes have improved since then. While Slot doesn’t want to pin the blame on his former coach, the Reds’ boss has noticed a difference.

“It would be very unfair to Aaron, who was partly responsible [for set-pieces], but in the end, I'm responsible for everything," Slot said last week.

"We were in that period of time so unlucky. We all knew that it couldn't go on like that.

"We hardly gave away any chances, but every ball went in, and we created multiple opportunities to score, and the ball didn't go in.

"That things have gone back to normal now is what we expected. In general, we didn't change that much; maybe some slight changes. But things just went back to normal.”