Why Did Liverpool Concede More Chances From Corners?

In the last few games, Liverpool they were threatened many times, which is not normal.

If we look for the reasons, we find some common answers often used by the media, such as the loss of interest, competence or mental state, the whole situation of the club this season, etc...

Although this could all be true, Klopp more than once emphasized that football problems are solved with football solutions, so let’s dive deeper to realize what he meant.

The Far Post.

Liverpool defended with 6 players zonally inside the 6 yards box, at the penalty spot there were 2 players to mark Foxes’ players man-to-man.

Leicester tried to deal with that to put 3 players as runners, which meant that they would have a free player, because of 3v2 situation.

Rodgers targetted the far post, Soumare blocks Alisson & Barnes blocks Van Dijk to prevent them from clearing the ball away,

Castange makes a run at the near post to take one of the two-man markers (Henderson) with him, while Fayes and Ndidi run at the far post, Oxlade losses his man, and Arnold positioned close to the post, which means that the space in front of him is free for Ndidi & Fayes to attack it.

But at the last minute, Oxlade puts his body in the direction of the shot and the chance missed.

Against Brentford, the same defensive shape, but Arnold was higher, while Fabinho stands at the edge of 6 yards box to mark Mbeumo and deny the overload on the near post.

Norgaard makes his run at the near post to pull Robertson with him, while Janelt tries to block Thiago who fills the space between Robertson and Konate, Ben Mee and Zanka make a run at this space, but the cross was at the far post as a variation, Pinnock blocks Chamberlain, Arnold puts an eye on Jansen, Wissa receives the ball comfortably and manages to score, but after seconds the goal was ruled out.

The Near Post.

Liverpool is one of the hardest teams if not the hardest in terms of attacking them at the near post because of his scheme and the roles of his players there, but The Bees found out a plan to hurt them, and gave a key for The Reds’ upcoming opponents, let’s dig in.

Norgaard makes his run at the near post to pull Robertson with him.

While Janelt tries to block Thiago who fills the space between Robertson and Konate, Ben Mee and Zanka attack the space between them.

They manage to overload this area, the ball hits on Konate’s leg, who can’t react in time and the ball flies into the net, and The Bees scored their opening goal.

De Zerbi and his staff decided to target the same area, Brighton’s players positioned as a pack inside the six yards box, which forced Henderson to take the same role of Fabinho against Brentford.

Mitoma stands alongside Robertson, then he makes a double run to drag Robertson slightly to expand the space between him and Matip, while Mac Allister and Dunk are ready to make their run.

Afterwards, Mitoma moves towards Thiago to slow down him from filling the targetted space.

Mac Allister and Dunk make their run and The World Cup Winner wins the first contact, but Alisson stopped it.

Flying to Anfield Road, Potter tracked the same way, Havertz tries to shift Robertson slightly.

Then he backs again to his initial position, Chalobah attacks the same area, while Thiago Silva dismarks himself by running behind Badiashile which gives him an advantage to arrive to the space first.

At that moment, Jorginho tries to hold Konate up to prevent him from clearing the ball away if the cross bypasses the targeted area, and this is what happened, Badiashile follows the cross, the ball falls in front of Havertz who scores and takes the lead in the first, but then the goal is disallowed.

We can now see why Liverpool have been vulnerable in their defensive corners and it's predictable that more teams will hit them where it hurts, on the other hand Liverpool are 7th in the league in conceding expected goals from set-pieces so far after finishing last season as the second best team after Manchester City in expected goals from set-pieces and how Klopp will get the way out of this situation.