Liverpool manager Arne Slot has delivered a frank assessment of his team's season so far, insisting their 'best is still to come' but only if they can urgently solve a glaring weakness at set-pieces. The Reds sit fifth in the Premier League, level on points with Chelsea, after steadying a ship that had been rocked by a dismal run of nine defeats in 12 games earlier in the campaign.
A Position Below Expectations
While a recent unbeaten streak of six matches has improved the mood at Anfield, Slot is far from satisfied. He openly admits that Liverpool's league position is below his pre-season expectations. The head coach pointed to a recurring theme in their performances, even during this improved run, as a major concern.
"We are in the position we deserve after the first half of the season," stated Slot. "I think we should be higher, let that be clear. But even in the last six games, the difference between us and the other team is constantly too small. We have been a bit lucky with the result at times."
Slot highlighted controversial refereeing decisions and set-piece problems as having an "incredible impact" on their season's start but refused to use them as a long-term excuse. His ambition is for Liverpool to control games so thoroughly that luck becomes irrelevant. "We need to find a situation where we are so much better than the other team that luck or bad luck does not influence it any more," he said.
The Set-Piece Deficit Hurting Liverpool
The statistics reveal a stark problem area. In the Premier League this season, only Bournemouth (12) have conceded more goals from set-pieces than Liverpool's 11. Conversely, while rivals like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United have all netted 10 times from dead-ball situations, the Reds have managed a paltry three.
Slot presented a compelling argument for how this deficiency has distorted their league standing. "If you look at our set-piece balance, there is not one team in the world that is minus eight in set pieces and is still joint-fourth in the league," he argued. "From open play we are the number-one team in the league for chance creation... if you were to exclude the set pieces then the world would look completely different and we would probably be five or six points higher."
He acknowledged that set-pieces are a fundamental part of modern football but described them as a "different element" or an "add-on" to the core game, one that is currently having an "immense impact" on their results.
Building Towards a Stronger Second Half
Despite the clear issues, the Dutch coach remains optimistic about the trajectory of his squad. He believes that as players return to full fitness and grow more accustomed to his methods, significant improvement is inevitable.
"Players are getting fitter and fitter, not only the ones we brought in but also the ones who missed out in pre-season," Slot explained. "They are getting used to each other. I think the best is still to come for this team."
Liverpool will be without the suspended Dominik Szoboszlai for their upcoming match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Alexander Isak also a long-term absentee. Slot's challenge is to oversee the necessary improvements on the training ground to transform his team's set-piece fortunes and close the gap he sees in general performance levels.
The message from the manager is clear: the foundation in open play is strong, but until the set-piece puzzle is solved, Liverpool will struggle to become the dominant force both he and the fans expect.
