Liverpool boss Arne Slot has expressed his distaste for the present state of Premier League soccer, admitting that video games usually are not ‘a pleasure to observe’.
Set-pieces have grow to be extra essential than ever within the high flight, with leaders Arsenal having utilised them as a key weapon this season.
This was a difficulty for Slot’s facet earlier within the season, resulting in set-piece coach Aaron Briggs being given the chop.
The Premier League champions have since needed to adapt their model of play, and adapt they’ve. The Reds have extra non-penalty set-piece targets within the league than some other facet.
Three of Liverpool’s targets in Saturday’s 5-2 win in opposition to West Ham got here from corners, all within the first half, as Slot continues to take a leaf out of Mikel Arteta’s e-book because the Merseyside membership revive their season.
Nonetheless, whereas the Dutchman has proven willingness to vary his method to go well with the league this season, he isn’t a fan.
Arne Slot has admitted he doesn’t like how the Premier League has grow to be reliant on set-pieces
Liverpool scored three of their 5 targets in opposition to West Ham on Saturday from corners
In his pre-match press convention for Tuesday’s conflict with Wolves, Slot stated: ‘It’s important to settle for it. I believe it is primarily right here within the Premier League. If I watch different leagues, I do not assume there’s a lot emphasis on set-pieces.
‘If I watch an Eredivisie recreation, which I nonetheless do, I see targets being disallowed and fouls on goalkeepers being given and I believe “wow, that is a giant distinction”. Right here, you possibly can nearly hit a goalkeeper in his face and the referee nonetheless says “simply go on”.
‘Do I prefer it? My soccer coronary heart would not prefer it. In case you ask me about soccer, I take into consideration the Barcelona group from 10, 15 years in the past. Each Sunday night you had been hoping they’d play.’
Liverpool journey to Molineux for the primary of two away journeys to Wolves this week, trying to make it 4 Premier League wins on the spin in opposition to the division’s basement boys.
Whereas Rob Edwards’ facet are doomed for the drop, sitting 14 factors from security, they arrive into the conflict on the again of a derby day win in opposition to Aston Villa.
And Slot, whereas he will not just like the soccer on show, is aware of he’s in for a tough conflict.
He added: ‘Many of the video games I see within the Premier League usually are not for me a pleasure to observe, but it surely’s all the time fascinating as a result of it is so aggressive and that’s what makes this league nice – as a result of there’s a lot competitiveness.
‘Everybody can win in opposition to everybody, however simply as somebody who loves to observe soccer, with out being enthusiastic about who’s profitable or dropping it, simply to be loved, I believe there is a large distinction now between three or 4 years in the past within the Premier League.
‘Groups have grow to be a lot stronger – three or 4 years in the past, when the highest golf equipment confronted the No 18, 17, 16, 15 [in the table], it may have been a 4 or 5 targets distinction, and that is normally what you want.
League leaders Arsenal have scored a record-equalling 16 targets from corners this season
‘If there’s a lot distinction between the groups, then one group is admittedly good, however that is not the state of affairs anymore.
‘It is not solely concerning the set-pieces, it is also as a result of so many groups have grow to be very sturdy. However we’re not going to vary.
‘Perhaps in 5 or 10 years’ time issues will change once more however I would not be stunned in case you went to an under-16s recreation someplace, Sunday League soccer, in case you see groups fully being centered on set-pieces. That is the brand new actuality.’
