Van Dijk labels Liverpool's set-piece woes a 'killer'

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk stated that the Premier League title holders must address their dismal record in defending set pieces to maintain their recent surge in form.

The Reds scraped a 2-1 victory over league basement dwellers Wolves on Saturday, having shipped their 12th Premier League goal from a set piece in just 18 fixtures.

No side has leaked more, while at the opposite end, Liverpool have netted only three times from set pieces, not counting penalties.

This minus nine gap marks their poorest in any Premier League campaign.

"The reality is we have let in far too many goals from set pieces and we fail to score sufficiently," Van Dijk remarked.

"It is an area we must work on. I would estimate that at least 75 per cent of the time, or possibly higher, it is not solely the initial contact. The follow-up phase proves to be the real problem.

"Could it be a mindset issue? I sincerely hope not. If it is preying on your mind, then it becomes a concern. For me personally, it is not."

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has criticised his teams dead ball defence throughout much of the term.

Yet the Dutch coach detects overall advancement, as Liverpool overcame nine-man Tottenham and Wolves in their most recent outings, even though they conceded from a corner on both occasions.

"Regrettably, we might be the sole team that scarcely ever scores from a set piece, and worse still, we repeatedly concede," Slot noted.

"However, as I mentioned two, three, or four weeks back, we must ensure that when setbacks occur, whether from a set piece or otherwise, we still discover a means to secure victory.

"In our last two encounters, we conceded from a set piece yet managed to triumph, something that has been rare this season. That counts as advancement in my view, though it is clear we have additional aspects to refine, and this is certainly among them."

In spite of several lacklustre showings, Liverpool boast a seven-game unbeaten streak.

Three straight league triumphs have propelled Slot's squad back into the top four, but they trail frontrunners Arsenal by 10 points.