This was the kind of scoreline might need envisaged posting somewhat extra usually once they spent . Besides that, as they scored 5 occasions in a league recreation for the primary time since clinching the title by demolishing Tottenham, the 2 £100m males had been absent, each injured.
They didn’t want the German’s creativity to be prolific, or the Swede’s pace. Somewhat, they might have underlined one in all ’s mantras. Throughout their autumnal stoop, the Liverpool head coach mentioned that unlocking a defence usually concerned a second of magic or a set-piece. Effectively as and performed, Liverpool weren’t magical. However the workforce who had been statistically the worst within the division at set-pieces within the first half of the season might now be formally the perfect. Immediately or not directly, they scored from three earlier than the break.
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A foul afternoon for was maybe a worse one for Aaron Briggs. When Liverpool fired their set-piece coach on the finish of December, it was a response to an everyday shortcoming. Now Slot needn’t bemoan their “set-piece steadiness”, to borrow his phrase, with such regularity. “There was a time after we had been 23 targets behind Arsenal, together with penalties, and we have now closed the hole a bit,” smiled Slot.
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He may savour the set-pieces that beat . “It is vitally pleasing,” he added. “The primary half of the season, nearly each set piece we conceded went in. We begin scoring from set items and issues begin wanting brighter and higher than while you don’t.”
Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo had been on the scoresheet at Anfield (AFP by way of Getty Photos)
They’ve turned a nook in terms of corners. Maybe in a approach that leaves Briggs – who was not employed as a set-piece specialist anyway – wanting luckless, provided that the primary and third targets stemmed from second-phase conditions. Possibly the luck is night itself out over the season for Liverpool, who additionally benefited from an personal purpose; simply not for Briggs. “Issues went again to regular,” mirrored Slot. “Possibly one or two small particulars have modified defensively and offensively.” Not a lot, he argued, although there’s a distinction within the personnel within the dugout.
Liverpool’s set-piece report isn’t excellent with out Briggs; they conceded to a West Ham nook, headed in by the unmarked Taty Castellanos. But as Liverpool went fifth, returning to the possible Champions League spots for the primary time in a month, they now high one other desk: for many set-piece targets in 2026, with 9. They grew to become simply the second workforce in historical past to attain three targets from corners in a primary half.
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Their second might have come straight from the coaching floor, if not from probably the most intricate of routines. Szoboszlai merely aimed his nook at , who headed it in. West Ham had their possibilities to clear the corners for the primary and third. The impasse was damaged when, after a bout of head tennis, Ryan Gravenberch picked out Ekitike, who hooked in a low half-volley, although it took a deflection.
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The Frenchman ended with two assists to accompany his purpose and teed up Alexis Mac Allister to volley of their third and his second in every week. There ought to have been a fourth set-piece purpose, Cody Gakpo slicing a shot horribly large after West Ham contrived to overlook Joe Gomez’s lengthy throw. As an alternative, the Dutchman ended his purpose drought by way of a spark off Aaron Wan-Bissaka, getting his first in eight video games. Slot has resisted the clamour to start out Rio Ngumoha and was rewarded by Gakpo’s return to the scoresheet.
Their fifth purpose got here 5 minutes into His low cross was became his personal internet by Axel Disasi. It might have been a well-recognized feeling for West Ham, who’ve conceded 5 targets in three video games towards Liverpool in Slot’s comparatively temporary reign, who’ve solely gained as soon as at Anfield since 1963 and who might not return right here subsequent season.
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They, too, can testify to the importance of corners. “We actually made errors from set-pieces,” mentioned Nuno. “It’s irritating as a training employees. It’s one thing we have now been placing a variety of time and effort to place it proper.” As an alternative, they obtained it fallacious. No facet has conceded from extra this season, and it threatens to be their undoing.
None have fewer clear sheets they usually had been behind inside 5 minutes. Thereafter, Liverpool lacked management, however scorelines form impressions. Slot had acquired congratulations for Liverpool’s show towards West Ham however mentioned: “In my view we have now performed have higher after we misplaced and higher after we conceded from set items.”
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And Nuno recognised how his argument appeared illogical. “Possibly it’s absurd to say it’s a good efficiency while you lose 5-2,” mentioned the West Ham supervisor. “However there have been a variety of positives.” His facet had an attacking menace. Liverpool conceded for the primary time in 4 video games, Tomas Soucek sliding in to transform the low cross El-Hadji Diouf drilled. Alisson saved properly from Crysencio Summerville and Castellanos headed in Jarrod Bowen’s ensuing nook. West Ham completed with the upper anticipated targets rating. Within the set-piece league, it mattered little.