Aldridge Calls Out Liverpool's Set-Piece Woes After Palace Victory

Liverpool secured a 3-1 victory against Crystal Palace at Anfield, pushing them into the Premier League's top four. However, the win wasn't as comfortable as the scoreline suggests, with the hosts relying on a late goal from Florian Wirtz to seal the deal. Goalkeeper Freddie Woodman also played a crucial role, making several key saves to keep the Eagles at bay.

Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge expressed his worries about the team's defending on set pieces. In his latest column for the Liverpool Echo, he pointed out how easily Palace dominated in these situations, a concern that must be addressed as the season nears its conclusion.

Aldridge noted, "Set plays were a worry for me. I was doing the commentary for LFCTV. In general, we defended alright, but they had Maxence Lacroix, their number 5, marked by Florian Wirtz. It reminded me of the mismatch in the League Cup final against Newcastle last season when Dan Burn was being marked by Alexis Mac Allister."

He questioned the organization of Liverpool's defense during set pieces, stating, "I don’t know who organizes Liverpool from set plays, but it’s not rocket science. Lacroix was peeling off the back and should have scored twice. Freddie Woodman made a good save on one, and the other was blocked."

Aldridge continued, "If someone does it the first time, it’s up to Virgil van Dijk or someone else to say, ‘Look, let’s swap players.’ It’s happened a lot this season, and we don’t seem to learn from our mistakes. If you get caught out by it once, you can’t let it happen a second time."

The former striker emphasized the importance of addressing these issues, adding, "It could have cost us. Had they scored a couple of goals in the first half, they could have gone on to get a draw or even win the game. We got away with it this time, but it’s something that can be eradicated. It’s simple."