Jamie Carragher applauded Liverpool’s improvement in set pieces this season after Virgil van Dijk’s initial equaliser against Aston Villa.
Dominik Szoboszlai lofted a sumptuous ball from a free-kick over to the far post, which was duly headed home by the advancing Dutchman.
Ollie Watkins quickly restored the Villans’ lead in the second half, capitalising on the Reds’ No.8’s slip just outside the 18-yard box.
It’s 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.
But it was Liverpool that attracted praise from Carragher, who was keen to point out the quality of the Reds’ set piece play.
“Liverpool haven’t excelled much this season but one thing they have excelled at has been set pieces,” the former Red spoke on Sky Sports commentary (via BBC Sport).
That’s 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.
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Virgil van Dijk equalises for Liverpool 🔴 pic.twitter.com/7vnFzTGSTF
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 15, 2026
If we’re being honest with ourselves, there hasn’t been anything else to point to with Liverpool’s season.
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.
Only five Premier League sides have condeded more goals than Liverpool (52) this season:
Tonight’s 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.
Otherwise, Unai Emery’s men are more than good enough for their lead having utterly dominated Liverpool in the second-half of action.
Improvement in set-pieces isn’t enough. Liverpool need some solidity, they need some bite about them.
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… somehow.
And goodness knows how after what was served up (yet again) on Friday evening.
I think fans and supporters who called for the sacking of Slot have been vindicated now,unless action can be taken when we are in the relegation spot.Or are owners needing more humiliation? I am saying this because I expected LFC to win the league this season but at least I expected falling of grace fighting, not surrendering without a fight.In conclusion, I wish to earnestly request owners to review their stance in relation to Slot position as head coach.
I had concerns last season, the league cup final against Newcastle. Some of the performances at the end of last season was the start of the decline. Even though we won the league I said at the time, it’s the worst Liverpool team to ever win a league title.
When you start to get out run in games consistently, you lose the duels, second balls, tackles, something is wrong. We saw further decline in pre season, in the community shield. The signings in the summer didn’t improve any part of the team. Too many lightweight players . Crucially the midfield and central defence wasn’t strengthened.
In September the first doubts about slot were there for me with the way we lost at palace and galatasaray in September. The four defeats against Chelsea, Manchester United, brentford , and palace in the cup only made me feel we heading in the wrong direction with the wrong manager.
My mind was made up in November after more woeful performances and defending against Manchester city, forest and psv at home, conceding 10 goals in three games. Then for me time to sack slot. Slot should have been sacked in December.
Do I feel vindicated? No. No Liverpool fans want to see a manager sacked. But when the club is in decline, you must make changes, or it gets worse.
And it has as the season continued. Last night was the final proof. 50 years as a Liverpool fan. Knowledge comes from love of the football club.
We conceded another two goals yesterday from set pieces, how is that improvement. Van dijk is a goal threat from set pieces, he’s one of the best defenders at getting goals, and szoboszlai has a good delivery. That doesn’t mean we have improved at set pieces. Take out van dijk and we wouldn’t have scored. We have the worst record, with Bournemouth, in the premier league at conceding from set pieces. Improvement from set pieces is at both ends.
What’s the point of scoring 2 set piece goals and conceding 4? We have improved in scoring set pieces but are vulnerable to them as well. Shows what kind of nonsense coaches we have.
