Manager says it wasn’t the best game but things “look much brighter” when his side score from set-plays
Arne Slot was relieved that Liverpool edged West Ham on Saturday through set-piece goals, saying it was long overdue after their labours in dead-ball situations this season.
Liverpool scored three goals from set-pieces in matchweek 28 at Anfield, in contrast to their general fortunes this season when they have been one of the worst teams in the league for conceding or scoring from set-plays. Slot hailed the improvement as “very pleasing”.
“We were OK to good but it wasn’t the best game of the season,” Slot said. “We’ve played better when we’ve lost; we’ve played better when we conceded set-pieces.
“We created quite a lot of chances from set-pieces in the first part of the season and almost every set-piece we conceded went in, and today you could see exactly the opposite happening.
“I think one of their first big chances was a set-piece that would have gone in in the first six or seven months [of the season], 100 per cent sure. But now we did it and we start scoring from set-pieces and then things look much brighter and better than when you don’t, and that’s really pleasing for us.”
The win over the Hammers was a big boost for Slot’s side as they keep themselves in the perfect position for a strong end to the season and to secure Champions League football.
Midfielder Florian Wirtz missed the win with a slight injury. Slot refused to specify a date for his return but said he would certainly not be available to face Wolves on Tuesday.
“I think that will be too early, but I said last week I didn’t expect him not to be available for today, so sometimes with an injury things can develop in a positive way or in a negative way,” Slot said.
“Now we are thinking it doesn’t have to take too long, but Tuesday will probably be too early.”
