Virgil van Dijk has revealed discussions have taken place over addressing Liverpool’s frailties at set-pieces and game management
Virgil van Dijk hopes Liverpool haven’t developed a mental block when it comes to set-pieces after their major shortcoming was again exposed on Saturday. The Reds were cruising to a comfortable home Premier League victory over struggling Wolves through first-half goals by Ryan Gravenberch and Florian Wirtz when visiting defender Santiago Bueno scored from a corner shortly after the interval.
It made for a nervy second half with Arne Slot’s eventually holding on for a 2-1 triumph in much the same manner they eked out a win at Tottenham Hotspur the previous weekend.
The goal was just the second Wolves had scored from a set-piece in the Premier League this season with the Midlanders the only club less effective at netting from dead-ball situations in the top flight than Liverpool.
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No club has conceded more times from such positions than the Reds in the Premier League with their set-piece balance – the difference between goals scored and conceded – now standing at minus nine, the worst such figure in the division.
And Liverpool captain Van Dijk said: “There have been plenty of games when we have defended them very well. But the fact is we’ve conceded too many set-piece goals and we don’t score enough.
“It’s about repetition, training, analysing… it’s something we have to improve. I’d say at least 75% of the time or even more, it’s not even about the first contact, it’s the second phase that is the killer.
“Is it a mental thing? I hope not. If that’s in your head then it’s an issue. Personally, it’s not in my head.
“We have defended so many set-pieces very well. But the fact is we’ve conceded too many goals like that and it hurts. We have to improve that. Training is the only way to get better at it.”
Bueno scored from the rebound after Alisson Becker had saved a header from Tolu Arokodare.
And elaborating on the issues with the second phase of set-pieces, Van Dijk added: “Each and every one of us has to take responsibility. It’s always going to be on the players. We can speak about how we defend and how we attack, but at the end of the day it’s about what the players put in.
“It’s not been good enough. We all realise that. We have spoken about that. We need to turn it around. That’s why we work on it almost every training session.”
Van Dijk was also disappointed with the manner in which Liverpool failed to manage the game properly in the second half and gave Wolves encouragement they could snatch an equaliser.
“It’s something we have to improve,” he said. “It’s about training and using our experiences to get better at dealing with situations like Saturday.
“We will analyse and speak about it. I know it sounds easy but it’s a difficult thing to do. It’s a process and we have to keep trying to do it. If it was easy then we would have sorted it already.”
Wirtz’s goal, which ultimately proved to be the matchwinner, was his first for Liverpool on his 23rd appearance since arriving for £116million from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.
“I was very happy for him,” said Van Dijk. “He played a very good game. Everyone was outstanding in the first half. It’s great to see and hopefully many more to come from him.
“I think he runs almost everywhere. At times on the left, at times in the middle. He’s a very intelligent player who is so comfortable on the ball. He finds space between the lines and can be very important.
“He’s getting used to playing for Liverpool and what we want to do as a team. He’s getting used to the intensity. After about 70 minutes I think he had some cramp. It’s part of the game. He just has to keep going. It was an important goal for us and now on to New Year’s Day (against Leeds United at Anfield).
“He wants to be important in terms of goals and assists. The work-rate he puts in and the chances he creates is what I think is even more important. I am really pleased for him, like the rest of the team. You saw the celebrations. Everyone is so happy for him.”
Liverpool are now unbeaten in seven games in all competitions and have now moved into the top four for the first time since early November, but remain some distance behind main title contenders Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa.
But Van Dijk said: “There’s no point looking at the table in December. We just need to try to find consistency and wins. There are plenty of games to play. The FA Cup to come and the Champions League we also want to do well in.
“Dom (Szoboszlai) will be back (for Leeds). I don’t think there were any (more) injuries, which is a good sign. Joe (Gomez) will be back soon hopefully. It’s an exciting challenge with so many games coming up.
“Difficult games starting with Leeds, Fulham and then Arsenal. Then it’s the FA Cup. Let’s embrace it and enjoy it.”
