Evaluating different strategies for defending wide free-kicks beside the box – set-piece analysis

Teams have many main tactics to defend indirect free-kicks, but they change some roles and positions of specific players depending on many variables. The distance of the free-kick from the goal determines the defensive scheme. The defensive scheme for a near free-kick, which is closer to the goal, is different from the defensive scheme for a far free-kick, which is farther away from the goal. Moreover, the defensive structure depends on the location of the free-kick on the field, whether it is in the central area, in the outer flank, or half-spaces.

This tactical analysis will examine the specific challenges that confront the teams that defend against wide free-kicks in the outer corridor adjacent to the penalty area, which resemble corner kicks at a specific angle.

In many instances, one can observe teams that preserve the line system regardless of the situation, teams that make some adjustments and teams that transform the system entirely as if they were facing a corner kick. This analysis will elucidate the rationale behind these different approaches.

Liverpool case study

First, we have said that the defending scheme depends on many variables, but lets explain Liverpools main system against wide free-kicks. They defend by a high line with seven players who drop late using the off-side trap and a player who stands in front of them blocking the runner who tries to get into the line with his pace to make it easier for the line to catch him when they start to drop, but he only reduces his pace and doesnt track him to stay on the rebound zone.

They also use a player, highlighted in yellow, to stand between the line and the wall to close the direct path between the ball and the goal, and we will know the importance of that.

Now, lets start to get into the process. Thus, we need to categorise these free kicks that we will analyse into two segments. The first segment is where the indirect free-kick occurs before the six-yard line, and the second is when it is parallel to the six-yard line. Lets start with the first one, having a journey from the previous season to the current one.

In this kind of indirect free-kicks, Liverpool persisted with the same system, but as the free kick approached the goal, the demand for an isolated player to occupy the rebound zone, so they opted to eliminate the player who was positioned between the line and the wall. Here, the adversary took advantage of this gap between the wall and the line.