Arne Slot highlights set-piece issues harming Liverpool's top-four bid

Arne Slot, the manager of Liverpool, feels that his team's struggles with set-pieces are undermining their chances of securing a top-four spot in the Premier League.

The current title holders enter the hectic festive schedule trailing fourth-placed Chelsea solely on goal difference.

This season in the league, Liverpool have managed only three goals from set-pieces yet have let in 11, leaving Slot visibly irritated as he commented: "I am well aware of how crucial they are, and their significance is growing all the time, which explains our deep frustration with our performance so far.

"It is a major disappointment that we find ourselves in this position this year, especially since at the midpoint of last season we had not allowed a single set-piece goal.

"Achieving top four or even top five seems out of reach with our current set-piece differential, never mind challenging for the title."

The coach from the Netherlands continued: "Among the leading clubs, we stand alone with a negative set-piece record (Manchester City actually sit at minus one per Opta data), and not just negative, we are at minus eight while matching fourth place on points.

"Yet with that minus eight, Chelsea are around plus four (not plus eight as I thought), and Arsenal along with Manchester United have netted 10 each, so considering that, it is remarkable we hold as many points as we do given our set-piece situation.

"Everyone understands the reason: in open-play opportunities generated, we lead the division."

Injuries pose equal worries for Slot, as Alexander Isak faces several months sidelined after breaking his leg in a tackle from Tottenham's Micky van de Ven.

Slot views striker Cody Gakpo and defender Conor Bradley as coin-toss prospects for featuring against struggling Premier League side Wolves this Saturday.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah is away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Joe Gomez is dealing with a hamstring issue, Wataru Endo has an ankle injury, and Dominik Szoboszlai remains suspended.

"Now is the moment for the available squad members to step up as they have done repeatedly before and get stuck in," Slot remarked.

"Those who can play must pour all their effort into it."