Liverpool hire new coach after Man City blow in first-of-its-kind appointment at Anfield
Liverpool are always looking for marginal gains to improve.
Liverpool won the Premier League last season in Arne Slot‘s first season in English football, with the Dutchman’s tactical tweaks playing a huge part in that success.
Fenway Sports Group have backed Slot to to do the same this season, bringing Alexander Isak to Liverpool on deadline day to complete a near £500million rebuild.
However, they have also made moves off the Anfield pitch to try and retain the title.
Liverpool hire Lewis Mahoney after Man City nab highly-rated coach
Dominik Szoboszlai scored a wonderful free-kick in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Arsenal, and set-pieces are becoming more important in the game.
A report from Training Ground Guru on 1 September claims that Lewis Mahoney has been appointed as the Reds’ first-ever set-piece analyst.
It states that he will work closely with set-piece coach Aaron Briggs, who stepped up to take the role on a full-time basis.
James French, who was widely credited with the Reds’ success from dead-ball situations, left to join Manchester City this summer.
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Liverpool can get better from set-pieces
Considering the height that they have at their disposal, with the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, it is a surprise that the Reds do not score more from set-pieces.
Liverpool have taken 262 in the league since Slot took the reins, but they have scored just eight times directly from the corner kick, according to Opta’s Michael Reid.
They have scored twice from free-kicks and once from a throw-in.
Slot will hope that the new appointment can help swing the tide, and bring more goals from corners and free-kicks to help his side retain their crown.
| Premier League | Played | GD | Points |
| 1. Liverpool | 3 | +4 | 9 |
| 2. Chelsea | 3 | +6 | 7 |
| 3. Arsenal | 3 | +5 | 6 |
Liverpool are in pole position for the title, but if they can get another marginal gain through set-pieces, it will only help them to achieve their goals.
It could also be the difference in the Champions League, which they will be hoping to win this season, given the huge spend this summer after a disappointing exit to Paris Saint-Germain.
Given the strength of Arsenal from corners, if the Reds can catch up in that regard, it can only help defeat them in the title battle.
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