Liverpool manager Arne Slot has admitted his “football heart” is struggling to embrace the Premier League’s growing obsession with set-pieces, even as his own side emerges as the division’s newest masters of the dead ball.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Dutchman offered a candid critique of the English top flight, suggesting that the league’s aesthetic is shifting away from the fluid, open-play brilliance he grew up admiring.
Slot reminisced about the legendary Barcelona teams of a decade ago, noting that while the Premier League remains incredibly competitive, many matches are no longer a “joy to watch” due to the constant interruptions and physical battles in the box.
The statistics for the 2025/26 season back Slot’s observations, with non-penalty set-piece goals accounting for 27.5% of the league’s total scoring—the second-highest rate since 2009-10.
Arsenal has set the benchmark for this trend, equalling a Premier League record with 16 goals from corners alone this season.
Paradoxically, Liverpool has become the primary beneficiary of this tactical shift in the new year; despite the departure of set-piece coach Aaron Briggs in late December, the Reds have scored more goals from set-pieces in 2026 than any other team in the league.
Slot highlighted a stark contrast between the English game and his experience in the Eredivisie, particularly regarding the lack of protection for goalkeepers.
He noted that in the Netherlands, fouls are frequently given for minor contact, whereas in the Premier League, players can “almost hit a goalkeeper in the face” without a whistle. He believes this “new reality” is so pervasive that it will likely trickledown to junior levels, with 16-year-olds in Sunday League matches becoming just as focused on corner routines as the professionals.
Liverpool’s reliance on these structured goals has become even more vital due to the absence of playmaker Florian Wirtz. The German international is set to miss the back-to-back games against Wolves this week after suffering a back injury during a warm-up against Nottingham Forest.
Slot confirmed that while Wirtz is unlikely to feature on Tuesday or Friday, the club is hopeful he will return in time for the Champions League clash against Galatasaray on March 10.
