Liverpool, Goals from Opposition Corners, and Arne Slot

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Competitive football teams score more goals, more often than their opponents. Because goal margins in this sport are largely small, these teams often find their edge producing goals from a wide range of situations (non-exhaustive list):

• Pressing and Counter-pressing
• Dead-balls
• Counter-attacks
• Buildup

In Liverpool, though, we see how elite teams capture unconventional edges, not mentioned above, to break the game open and establish their superiority. Here is a goal from their recent game against Brentford, a team notorious for being meticulous at set-pieces:

An electric counter rounded off by Lucho

§ 01My thoughts:

My cursorily assumption is that not many, if any, elite, European team scores as many goals off opposition corners as Liverpool do. To my approximation, they seem to score, at least, a couple of these every season.

Which begs the question, why are they so proficient in these situation?

First, a snapshot of the setup.

• Many players with above-average prowess in aerial contests in the deepest defensive line — allowing them to forgo having all the shorter players as blockers.

• A couple of forwards with the bravery to always commit to, not necessarily win, the high-risk duels and 2nd balls that result from initial clearance.

• A couple of forwards, preferably the same as above, who are comfortable running and carrying the ball across the length of the pitch.

• At least a couple of players, stationed at the edge of the box, without man-marking duties.

As lethal as it is, this goal is not one that other teams can spontaneously plan to replicate. The XI, and the tendencies of the profiles in them, determines which kinds of goals are possible and repeatable.

In another game in the same week as Liverpool's, here is a similar situation with Manchester United's Antony – who often skirts from or struggles with tougher duels:

Antony at the edge of our own box: #pondlife

Antony ducking from a high-risk duel edge of box after an opposition corner

By contrast, here is another instance with Manchester United's Amad Diallo in a similar position at the edge of the box – about whom we've previously written, 'shows a propensity to engage aggressively in challenges, often attempting to poke the ball away.' Ironically, this plays out against Liverpool.

Every angle of THAT Amad Diallo goal

Amad contesting a high-risk duel edge of box after an opposition corner

The point is clear.

§ 02On Liverpool's Arne Slot:

In my essay, What Should We Expect from Head Coaches?, I argue that trust is essential trait to platform athletes.

"Trust isn't just about believing in a player's ability; it's about nurturing a relationship where the player feels valued and understood, thereby unlocking their potential to excel both on and off the pitch."

Trust manifests in various, often indescribable, ways. Yet, having a strong command of rhetoric and clear oration are two strong indicators that a coach can express trust and earn the buy-in from their players: during half-time team talks, press conferences, training, and in private conversations.

Now, I am by no means an expert in rhetoric and speech – but I feel confident expressing my own reaction to them.

In his post-match interview and other recordings on the web, I have found Slot to be a meticulous orator. Besides his soothing cadence, his responses manage to capture my whole attention.

Listen to this segment after the same Brentford game:

"It's only a nice experience if you win. I think the fans loved what they saw."

Arne Slot tells us his experience of Anfield for the first time in the Premier League and how pleased he was to neuter Brentford's set-piece threats.

Halftime. 2-0 down. Crowd on your neck. You're the next sub.

This is the kind of coach you want at your ear before running onto the pitch.