Carragher Praises Liverpool's Set Piece Mastery Amidst Defensive Struggles

Jamie Carragher has praised Liverpool's set piece performance this season, particularly after Virgil van Dijk's equaliser against Aston Villa. Dominik Szoboszlai delivered a perfectly weighted free-kick, allowing Van Dijk to head home and level the score. However, the joy was short-lived as Ollie Watkins quickly restored Aston Villa's lead in the second half, taking advantage of a slip from Szoboszlai just outside the box.

Set pieces defined the match, with Aston Villa initially taking the lead through a well-executed corner routine. Despite this, Carragher was quick to highlight Liverpool's improvement in this area. "Liverpool haven’t excelled much this season, but one thing they have excelled at has been set pieces," he remarked during Sky Sports commentary.

This marks a stark contrast to earlier in the season when Liverpool struggled significantly in this department, leading to the dismissal of their set piece coach, Aaron Briggs. While the Reds have faced criticism for their defensive frailties, Carragher's comments suggest a silver lining in their set piece execution.

Defensively, Liverpool has been shaky, conceding 52 goals this season—only five teams have allowed more. Their away trip to Villa Park mirrored these struggles, despite a promising first half. The stats tell a story: Liverpool had 55% possession but only managed 5 shots on target compared to Villa's 9.

As the season progresses, Liverpool's ability to capitalize on set pieces could be crucial, especially when other aspects of their game seem to falter. It's a small victory in a challenging season, but one that could provide a foundation for improvement moving forward.