{"id":646184,"date":"2026-05-16T06:06:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T06:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/646184\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T06:06:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T06:06:12","slug":"jamie-carragher-says-liverpool-have-excelled-at-set-pieces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/646184\/","title":{"rendered":"Jamie Carragher says Liverpool have excelled at set pieces"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jamie Carragher applauded Liverpool\u2019s improvement in set pieces this season after Virgil van Dijk\u2019s initial equaliser against Aston Villa.<\/p>\n

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Dominik Szoboszlai lofted a sumptuous ball from a free-kick over to the far post, which was duly headed home by the advancing Dutchman.<\/p>\n

Ollie Watkins quickly restored the Villans\u2019 lead in the second half, capitalising on the Reds\u2019 No.8\u2019s slip just outside the 18-yard box.<\/p>\n

Jamie Carragher says Liverpool have \u2018excelled\u2019 at set pieces<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a game almost totally defined by set pieces, with the hosts earning credit for a well-worked corner routine that saw Morgan Rogers open the scoring in the first 45.<\/p>\n

But it was Liverpool that attracted praise from Carragher, who was keen to point out the quality of the Reds\u2019 set piece play.<\/p>\n

\u201cLiverpool haven\u2019t excelled much this season but one thing they have excelled at has been set pieces,\u201d the former Red spoke on Sky Sports commentary (via BBC Sport<\/a>).<\/p>\n

That\u2019s quite a change in narrative from the first half of the season, in which the club were found to be seriously wanting from set pieces. Such to an extent that the Merseysiders opted to sack their set piece coach, Aaron Briggs, earlier in the campaign<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Virgil van Dijk equalises for Liverpool \ud83d\udd34 pic.twitter.com\/7vnFzTGSTF<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Liverpool haven\u2019t excelled at anything else<\/p>\n

If we\u2019re being honest with ourselves, there hasn\u2019t been anything else to point to with Liverpool\u2019s season.<\/p>\n

The Reds have looked mighty leaky from the back, inneffective going forward, and lacking any of the control Arne Slot is said to value from his team.<\/p>\n

Only five Premier League sides have condeded more goals than Liverpool (52) this season:<\/p>\n

Leeds United (53)
\nTottenham (55)
\nWest Ham United (62)
\nWolves (66)
\nBurnley (73)<\/p>\n

Tonight\u2019s away trip to Villa Park has been no different. Albeit, we did manage to enjoy a relatively strong first half that still saw the hosts take the lead against the run of play.<\/p>\n

Aston Villa\u2019s stats
\nLiverpool\u2019s stats<\/p>\n

45% possession
\n55% possession<\/p>\n

1.91 xG
\n1.55 xG<\/p>\n

14 shots
\n16 shots<\/p>\n

9 shots on target
\n5 shots on target<\/p>\n

19 touches inside the opposition box
\n31 touches inside the opposition box<\/p>\n

Otherwise, Unai Emery\u2019s men are more than good enough for their lead having utterly dominated Liverpool in the second-half of action.<\/p>\n

Improvement in set-pieces isn\u2019t enough. Liverpool need some solidity, they need some bite about them.<\/p>\n

A lot to fix in the summer, but it seems like Slot will still be the man to lead the club into the next season<\/a>\u2026 somehow.<\/p>\n

And goodness knows how after what was served up (yet again) on Friday evening.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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