Liverpool‘s impressive 5-2 victory against West Ham United not only shows their position in the top five race but also marks a significant improvement in their season. The Reds have now scored seven straight Premier League goals from set-pieces at Anfield, the longest streak in the league’s history, including three goals from dead-ball situations on Saturday. What was once a weakness is now a key strength.
Liverpool Turns Set-Piece Challenges into Goals
Coaching Changes Lead to Improvement
After some disappointing results, Liverpool let go of their set-piece coach, Aaron Briggs, earlier this season. There were limited scoring chances, poor deliveries, and lack of organization. Since this change, Liverpool has shown a clear transformation. They now approach corners and free kicks with greater timing, intention, and movement. Unlike earlier in the season, players occupy important positions and often make first contact in critical areas.
West Ham attempted to address this problem. Defender Mateus Fernandes mentioned to Sky Sports that the team had spent a week crafting a plan to defend against Virgil van Dijk. However, the plan fell short, underlining Liverpool’s growing effectiveness from set pieces. Additionally, Dominik Szoboszlai’s impressive long-range free kicks have added to their success.
Building Confidence Through Consistency
The improvement is both mental and statistical. Liverpool now has a reliable source of goals during moments of stalled play, aiding their ability to maintain leads. Set-piece routines have fostered an atmosphere of confidence over uncertainty. After the match, Cody Gakpo remarked on the importance of having scoring options from set pieces, emphasizing its significance during games where scoring is difficult:
“In some games, when the game is stuck and you know you can score from a set piece – which we lacked in other moments – it’s very important.”
Ongoing Improvements, Clear Progress
Although defensive errors on set-pieces still happen, the offensive revival strongly outweighs them. Strategic coaching adjustments and disciplined play have led to sharper movements, clear player roles, and intentional deliveries.
Liverpool’s shift from a persistent weakness to one of the Premier League’s most effective set-piece teams highlights how focused coaching can transform a team’s assets. While they still show vulnerability defensively and at times in attacking play, their recent success with set pieces is definitely a significant advantage.