Liverpool Set-Piece Analysis 2024/25: How Ipswich Town Exposed Arne Slot’s Corner Defence Weakness

Liverpool are nearly the best in everything in the Premier League.

They are in first place in the table with 53 points, six above Arsenal, who have 47 points, knowing that the Reds played one less game.

In the UEFA Champions League, the situation is nearly the same, holding the top position with 21 points from seven matches.

Last Saturday, Liverpool Crashed Ipswich Town 4-1 in a great match for The Reds.

However, the match witnessed an important event tactically: Ipswich Towns goal from a corner kick and other chances from corner kicks.

Before this goal, Arne Slots side hadnt conceded any goal from corners in the Premier League.

Despite having conceded just a goal from corners (with Newcastle United and Aston Villa), this match may be a key for the upcoming opponents to know how to overcome Aaron Briggs defending scheme.

In this tactical analysis, we will discuss the variation of defending tactics between Jürgen Klopps era and the current one, highlighting potential gaps in the current scheme.

Liverpool Tactics Under Jürgen Klopp Last Season

As shown below, Liverpools previous scheme generally consisted of six zonal defenders (green), two players in the second line (yellow), a short-option defender (orange), and a rebound defender standing near the edge of the box (pink).

It was a good general scheme, but it had a weakness: Trent Alexander-Arnold was the last zonal defender, but they put Virgil van Dijk as the zonal defender before him, giving him the freedom to predict the cross and go to help him.

They also depended on Alisson Becker, who is so clever at claiming the ball in the air, to go out and claim the ball before going to the far post.

Notably, the two players (yellow) have a different role than the traditional man markers.

From the beginning, they dont go to the mark; they stand waiting for certain runners or runners coming to specific areas, depending on the opponent.

Thus, you can name them awaiting markers or second-line defenders with specific roles.

You can find out their specific role in that analysis.

Liverpool Tactics Under Arne Slot

As shown below, the current scheme is five zonal defenders (green) without Alexander-Arnold, who became a man marker and then a short-option defender (orange).

Due to this, they now have three man markers, but they use them as nearly traditional man markers, starting with the attackers.

Note: Despite getting rid of Alex