Deadly at dead balls as Liverpool 'go back to normal'

Since the turn of the year, Liverpool have scored more goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties) than any other side in the league.

It's a stark contrast to the campaign up to the new year when no one in the Premier League had scored fewer goals than Liverpool from set-pieces.

Seven of Liverpool's most recent nine Premier League goals have come from set-pieces (5 x corner, 1 x direct free-kick, 1 x throw-in), one more than in their first 38 goals of the season. All three of Liverpool's goals in the first half against West Ham came from corners.

"It's very pleasing because firstly that is the reason we have won," said Slot.

"Second of all, people said well played, and in my opinion we have been better when we lost and better when we conceded from set-pieces.

"The first half of the season, almost every set-piece we conceded went in. Now we start scoring from set-pieces and things start looking brighter and better than when you don't."

At the end of 2025, former set-piece coach Aaron Briggs left the club. The existing coaching staff at Anfield have absorbed his duties.

When asked what had changed about his team, Arne Slot said: "Things went back to normal.

"We have created quite a lot of chances in the first half of the season that too many times did not go in. Maybe one or two small details have changed defensively and offensively.

"Our set-up is slightly different, but the biggest reason is that things go back to normal. There was a time when we were 23 goals behind Arsenal, including penalties, and we have closed the gap a bit."

Read more analysis of Liverpool's win against West Ham here