Liverpool may be defending champions, but according to head coach Arne Slot, sentiment and reputation alone will not carry them to another Premier League crown. In a remarkably candid assessment, Slot has identified what he believes is the single most decisive factor separating his side’s European dominance from their domestic inconsistency: set-pieces.
The warning came after a narrow 1-0 victory at Sunderland, sealed by a towering header from captain Virgil van Dijk. The goal, delivered from a precise corner by Mohamed Salah, was not merely three points earned — it was, in Slot’s view, evidence of what must become routine rather than occasional. Van Dijk’s recent scoring burst from dead-ball situations has highlighted a growing attacking threat, but the manager insists it is still not enough.
“I have always said it is almost impossible to win a big game with a negative set-piece balance,” Slot explained. “And in this league, every game is a big game.” His tone suggested not frustration, but urgency — a recognition that modern Premier League football has evolved into a battlefield increasingly decided by marginal gains.
Statistically, Liverpool’s transformation from one of the least effective sides in the league from corners earlier in the campaign to a team scoring eight set-piece goals in six matches across competitions signals progress. Yet Slot’s broader point remains uncompromising: improvement is not optional; it is existential.
Observers have noted the contrast between Liverpool’s Champions League form and their domestic struggles. In Europe, they lead the way in set-piece productivity. In England, they lag behind several rivals. Slot openly acknowledged that this discrepancy directly mirrors their league position. “It is impossible to win the league if you have a set-piece balance like ours,” he said. “You need to have plus five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten — no matter what you do in open play.”
Such blunt honesty resonates with supporters who have watched tight fixtures slip away due to defensive lapses or wasted opportunities from corners. One lifelong fan outside Anfield remarked, “You can dominate possession all day, but if you can’t defend or score from set-pieces, someone else will.” That sentiment captures the ruthless efficiency demanded by the Premier League’s current landscape.
The manager’s comments were partly inspired by observing other fixtures, including Brentford’s draw with Arsenal, where dead-ball situations shaped the rhythm and outcome. Slot believes the frequency and strategic emphasis on set-pieces have intensified compared to last season. The tactical arms race now extends beyond fluid attacking patterns into rehearsed corner routines and defensive organization.
Van Dijk’s role in this shift cannot be overstated. At 34, he remains Liverpool’s defensive cornerstone and aerial focal point. Slot praised not only his scoring threat but also his resilience, noting the extraordinary physical maintenance required to remain fit across relentless three-day cycles. The captain has featured in virtually every minute of the campaign, an achievement the manager attributes to meticulous recovery routines and unwavering mental discipline.
Teammates privately acknowledge that Van Dijk’s leadership extends beyond matchdays. His positioning during corners, both offensively and defensively, sets the structural tone. Analysts suggest his resurgence in attacking set-pieces adds psychological pressure on opponents who must now allocate additional markers, potentially freeing space elsewhere.
However, not everyone believes set-pieces alone determine a title race. A former Premier League midfielder commented on television that while dead-ball efficiency is critical, balance across all phases remains essential. “You can’t reduce football to corners and free-kicks,” he argued. “But in tight races, they swing momentum.”
Slot would likely agree — yet his message is about margins. In a league where point differentials between first and second can be razor-thin, incremental advantages compound over 38 matches. Liverpool’s ambition to retain their crown depends not on reinvention, but refinement.
The urgency is heightened by the competitive parity within the division. Clubs once considered mid-table now deploy specialist set-piece coaches and data-driven rehearsal patterns. The margin for complacency has evaporated. Every conceded corner feels loaded with consequence; every attacking delivery carries opportunity.
Supporters sense the stakes. The memory of last season’s triumph fuels belief, but belief without adaptation risks stagnation. As one fan noted online, “Champions evolve. If we don’t, someone else will.”
Slot’s declaration may sound severe, but it reflects a manager determined to confront uncomfortable truths. His willingness to publicly dissect weaknesses signals both accountability and ambition. Rather than deflecting blame, he has pinpointed a structural gap and challenged his squad to close it.
Whether Liverpool respond decisively remains to be seen. What is certain is that in the manager’s eyes, the pathway to silverware runs through the training ground’s set-piece drills as much as through open-play brilliance.
In a competition defined by intensity and unforgiving precision, Liverpool’s title defense may hinge on a deceptively simple principle: win the small battles, or surrender the ultimate prize.