“I Can’t Explain It” – Slot Puzzled as Liverpool Leak Set-Piece Goals
Liverpool boss Arne Slot admitted frustration after his side conceded yet another late set-piece goal, raising fresh questions about defensive frailties that have plagued the Reds this season. Despite a spirited 3-3 draw at Leeds on Saturday, Slot struggled to pinpoint why his team continues to let slip leads from dead-ball situations.
The Premier League clash saw Liverpool storm into a 2-0 advantage, with Dominik Szoboszlai restoring a late lead only for Ao Tanaka to snatch a point for the hosts from a corner deep in added time. It marked the tenth set-piece goal Liverpool have conceded this season, second only to Nottingham Forest’s eleven—a stark rise from the nine they allowed throughout the entire 2024-25 campaign.
“I don’t think there’s any team in the world that can be in a higher league position than we are if you concede 10 set pieces,” Slot said after the match. “For me, it’s not the setup, because it’s the same setup as last season when we hardly conceded in the first half of the season. So, tell me what it is. If I say it’s bad luck, you’d probably think that’s too simple after 15 games.”
The Dutch manager’s remarks underline the mounting pressure to solve Liverpool’s defensive inconsistencies, especially after a turbulent run that saw six defeats in seven top-flight games before last weekend’s narrow win at West Ham. A hard-fought draw against Sunderland at Anfield in midweek did little to inspire confidence, and the 2-0 collapse at Elland Road intensified scrutiny over the squad’s resilience.
Slot, however, dismissed claims of mental fragility. “I don’t feel that,” he insisted. “Even when we’re 2-0 up, we have chances to make it 3-0. It’s never nice to concede, but when you play in the Premier League, belief grows. And that belief showed in how we came back to take the lead again.”
The Reds’ late equalizer highlights a recurring tactical dilemma. Liverpool’s defense has now become alarmingly susceptible to set pieces, a vulnerability rarely associated with Slot’s well-drilled squads. With players like Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister, and Szoboszlai actively involved in attacking transitions, questions linger over the balance between offensive ambition and defensive discipline.
Analysts point out that such patterns echo situations seen with other top teams: when a squad concedes repeatedly from similar scenarios, it often signals systemic issues rather than isolated lapses. Could Liverpool’s defensive training, player positioning, or late-game concentration be under review? The coming fixtures will test Slot’s ability to correct course before the Reds’ title ambitions are truly compromised.
Saturday’s setback also hints at broader implications for player morale and club strategy. With the January transfer window looming, fans and pundits alike will watch to see whether Liverpool reinforces their set-piece organization or doubles down on offensive firepower to offset defensive vulnerabilities.
For now, Slot’s candid acknowledgment—“I “can’t explain it”—speaks volumes. Liverpool may have the talent to dominate games, but without answers to these recurring lapses, the Premier League’s finest could find their aspirations slipping through corners, free kicks, and the finest margins of stoppage time.