Since Liverpool’s set pieces underwent an overhaul in 2018, there has been a certain type of corner goal that has become synonymous with Jurgen Klopp’s side.
An out-swinger from Trent Alexander-Arnold or Andy Robertson targeting Virgil van Dijk in a central or near post zone has been the most common Liverpool corner goal in the past six years.
During this period, Liverpool’s corners have mainly been directed towards central zones just outside the six-yard box, with an emphasis on them going more towards the near post. Naturally, tweaks are made from game to game depending on the opponent’s defensive setup, but the main principles remain.
This approach allows Liverpool to utilise the strength of Alexander-Arnold and Robertson’s deliveries and Van Dijk’s aerial ability, while keeping the ball away from the goalkeeper.
Since 2018-19, Liverpool have had the third-best goals-per-100-corners rate in the Premier League (4.8) for all teams who have played a minimum of one complete season — looking at the goals per 100 corners allows us to level the playing field when comparing across teams because one team could have more corners than the other.
“We always come up with a clear plan in how we can make our set pieces count against a particular opponent and then we implement those ways in training,” Liverpool’s assistant manager, Pep Lijnders, told The Athletic in 2020. “We really spend time on it. It comes with conviction. We’re all together and also as individuals become better and better so our set pieces have improved.
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“For example, look at Trent’s delivery. That’s one thing and the timing and heading of Virgil is another. We need to use these strengths. They give colour to the ideas we have.”
Considering Liverpool’s focus on where they aim their corners, the subsequent shot locations from corners shouldn’t come as a surprise.
However, an important question remains: how do Liverpool maintain a threat at the far post while not changing their effective principles?
Last December, Van Dijk scored from a corner against Sheffield United, but he wasn’t the only attacking threat on that set play.
In this example, Liverpool are facing a hybrid defensive setup with six man-markers, three zonal players (red) towards the near post, and Andre Brooks (white) protecting against any late runs into the box or shots on the second phase.
As for Klopp’s side, Alexander-Arnold is ready to take the out-swinging corner, Van Dijk is at the centre of a cluster of Liverpool players near the penalty spot, while Mohamed Salah is positioned towards the far post.
Initially, Salah maintains his position, while Ibrahima Konate and Luis Diaz (red) pin their markers. Once Alexander-Arnold starts his run, Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo (white) make dummy runs towards the near post to vacate the central space for Van Dijk, who smartly blocks Gakpo’s marker, Anel Ahmedhodzic, which forces Jack Robinson to react…
… leaving Van Dijk in acres of space with Konate and Diaz pinning the nearest Sheffield United players. Alexander-Arnold’s target is the zone created for Van Dijk, but as the ball is in the air, Diaz and Salah move towards the far post…
… to be in position to score from the rebound or in case the cross is too high and Van Dijk only manages to flick it on. Fortunately, that is not needed as the cross is accurate and the Netherlands international easily finds the back of the net.
But in this example against Crystal Palace in 2021, Van Dijk doesn’t connect cleanly with the cross and Salah’s role attacking the far post proves its worth.
Here, Palace have four man-markers, five zonal markers and Wilfried Zaha lurking outside the penalty area (out of shot). On the other hand, Liverpool have three central runners in Van Dijk, Konate and Sadio Mane (red), and Salah (yellow) a couple of steps behind them.
The runners time their movement with Kostas Tsimikas’ cross and Van Dijk (red) attacks it. Meanwhile, Salah (yellow) holds his position…
… and only starts his run when the ball is nearing Van Dijk (red) to add another threat towards the far post. Liverpool’s captain doesn’t connect cleanly with the cross, but Salah (yellow) is in the perfect position to follow up…
… and score from close range.
By using a player to make a late run towards the far post, Liverpool provide a threat in that zone while maintaining their core principles, which focus on keeping the ball away from the goalkeeper and creating advantages in central and near-post zones to benefit from Van Dijk’s aerial ability.
This season, Liverpool have managed to score twice through this far-post threat on corners, against Aston Villa and Manchester United. In this example from the Villa game, Unai Emery’s side have six man-markers, three zonal players (white) towards the near post, and Moussa Diaby protecting against the short corner.
Liverpool’s attacking setup consists of three runners in Joel Matip, Darwin Nunez (red) and Salah (yellow), and three players inside the six-yard box: Joe Gomez (red), Curtis Jones and Diaz (white).
The routine kicks off when Robertson starts his run towards the ball. Matip, Nunez (red) and Salah (yellow) diverge, with the Uruguayan striker moving towards the near post, Gomez (red) moving towards Ezri Konsa to block Villa’s central zonal defender, and Diaz (white) making a dummy run to drag Douglas Luiz away from the targeted area.
As the ball is approaching Nunez (red), Salah (yellow) makes a late run towards the far post, where he connects with the striker’s flick to make it 3-0.
A similar scene was witnessed against Manchester United last Sunday. Here, United’s defensive setup has three man-markers (red), Diogo Dalot protecting the far post (white), four zonal players towards the near post, Alejandro Garnacho defending against the short corner, and Kobbie Mainoo (yellow) in a zonal role to help Rasmus Hojlund against Van Dijk.
As for Liverpool, they have three runners in Jarell Quansah, Van Dijk and Nunez (red), Diaz positioned near the penalty spot (yellow), and Wataru Endo (red) in front of the six-yard box.
When Robertson crosses the ball, Endo (red) moves towards Harry Maguire to disrupt the centre-back’s run, Nunez (red) is ready to attack the ball, and Diaz (yellow) takes small steps towards the far post…
… before adjusting his position to offer the Uruguayan striker an option in that zone. Nunez moves backwards to connect with Roberston’s cross and heads the ball towards Diaz…
… who puts it into the back of the net to give Liverpool the lead.
Due to the profile of their players, Liverpool wisely focus on attacking the near and central zones at corners. However, that doesn’t mean that they are ignoring the far post — instead, they have devised an ideal insurance policy for any delivery that subsequently ends up there.