Slot: Premier League’s Set-Piece Focus “Not A Joy”

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed his dissatisfaction with the growing emphasis on set-pieces in the Premier League, stating that most matches are no longer a “joy to watch” and that his “football heart doesn’t like” the trend.

A significant 27.5% of all goals scored in the league this season have come from non-penalty set-pieces, marking the second-highest rate since the 2009-10 campaign. Arsenal, in particular, have leveraged their set-piece prowess, with 16 goals from corners – three more than any other team – equalling the record for a single Premier League season.

Even Slot’s own side demonstrated this trend, with all three of Liverpool’s first-half goals in their recent 5-2 victory over West Ham United originating from corners. This comes despite the departure of set-piece coach Aaron Briggs from Anfield on 30th December, with Liverpool having scored the most non-penalty set-piece goals in the league in 2026.

“You have to accept it,” Slot conceded. “I think it’s mainly here in the Premier League. If I watch other leagues, I don’t think there’s so much emphasis on set-pieces.” He drew a contrast with the Eredivisie, where he observes goals being disallowed and fouls on goalkeepers being penalised more readily. “Here, you can almost hit a goalkeeper in his face and the referee still says ‘just go on’.”

“Do I like it? My football heart doesn’t like it,” Slot continued, reminiscing about the “Barcelona team from 10, 15 years ago” as his ideal of football. “Now, most of the games I see in the Premier League are not for me a joy to watch but it’s always interesting because it’s so competitive.”

While acknowledging the league’s competitiveness as its strength, Slot accepted that set-pieces are the “new reality of the Premier League” and even suggested it could become a trend at junior level. “We aren’t going to change it,” the Dutchman added, looking ahead to Tuesday’s match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.