Liverpool Manager Slot Reveals His 'Football Heart' Disapproves of Set-Piece Surge

On Monday, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot remarked that the increasing focus on set pieces in the Premier League has reduced the pleasure derived from the sport, yet he acknowledges this as the prevailing situation.

The team that claimed the title last season encountered challenges in managing dead-ball scenarios on both defence and attack fronts during the initial stages of the campaign.

Nevertheless, seven out of their most recent nine Premier League strikes have stemmed from set pieces, with three arising from corner kicks in Saturdays 5-2 triumph over West Ham at Anfield.

League frontrunners Arsenal stand out as masters of set-piece play and notched their 16th goal from a corner on Sunday, matching the competitions all-time record.

"You must first embrace it. This seems particularly prevalent in the Premier League," Slot explained to journalists on Monday. 

"Observing matches in other leagues, I notice far less priority given to set pieces."

The Dutch coach at Liverpool pointed out that goalkeepers in the Premier League receive inferior safeguarding from officials compared to those in leagues like the Dutch Eredivisie.

"In this league, you could nearly strike a goalkeeper across the face, and still the referee urges play to continue," he noted. 

"Do I enjoy it? My football heart does not."

Slot recalled eagerly anticipating viewings of Pep Guardiolas iconic Barcelona team, celebrated for their fluid, ball-dominant style.

"These days, many Premier League fixtures fail to thrill me," he added. 

"Yet they remain captivating due to their intense rivalry, which elevates this division, allowing any side to overcome another."

With a trip to face basement dwellers Wolves scheduled for Tuesday, Slot indicated that the set-piece phenomenon appears enduring.

"Perhaps in five or ten years, shifts may occur, but I would not be astonished to witness under-16 squads elsewhere fully dedicated to set pieces, even teenagers honing them meticulously," he commented.

"This constitutes the modern landscape, and while I hold views on it, nothing alters."

Sitting fifth in the table, Liverpool, victors in seven of their latest nine outings across all tournaments, hold a solid chance to secure Champions League qualification for the upcoming season.

Liverpools creative midfielder Florian Wirtz is anticipated to sit out the Wolves encounter and the subsequent FA Cup clash against them, both at Molineux, owing to a back problem.

The German player sat out Liverpools successes against Nottingham Forest and West Ham.