When Andoni Iraola was told on Friday that Liverpool had conceded just one goal from a set-piece this season, his response suggested the issue remains firmly on his mind.
The only goal came in their Carabao Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur, but Iraola has clearly not forgotten it.
With Arsenal visiting Anfield on Sunday, the Liverpool head coach knows his side must be prepared for another major set-piece test.
Mikel Arteta’s team have become one of the most dangerous sides in the Premier League from dead-ball situations, scoring 19 goals from corners and 25 from set-pieces overall last season. That accounted for 35 per cent of their league goals.
Set-pieces have become increasingly influential across the division, with teams relying on crowded penalty areas and long throws to create chances. Liverpool’s ability to contain Arsenal’s threat could prove crucial.
The Reds restricted the Gunners in both league meetings last season, winning 1-0 at Anfield before earning a goalless draw in North London. Another strong defensive display could further strengthen Iraola’s side’s growing title credentials.
“It is very early in the season because [Arsenal] hadn’t scored [from set-pieces] until the last weekend and now they have scored two goals,” Andoni Iraola says. “I hope they stay there for a while but they are a big threat. From set-pieces they are a big threat.
“They have very tall players who are very good headers and they work it very well. They give you a big demand and I think we will have to defend very well.
“I think we have, touch wood, dealt very well with defending set-pieces so far this season. But it’s probably the biggest challenge, yes.
“The head coaches are not there every minute and we cannot control everything with the set-plays, so it is (assistants) Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper who are the ones in charge with the analysts this season. I am happy, we are dealing with it well.
“But it is very early in the season so I don’t want to say this and then we start conceding set-pieces. It is a long-term thing and I hope we can keep it this way.
“Defensively, we are defending really well lately but still we have some situations where we need to improve.
“In the league, we have been less dangerous offensively. So it is still too early to take big conclusions but there are improvements needed everywhere, yes.”
Liverpool’s defensive solidity has been built on Jeremy Jacquet’s growing partnership with Virgil van Dijk and Ronald Araujo’s impressive form at full-back.
Aside from the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, in which Ryan Gravenberch was sent off, Iraola’s side have conceded just five goals in seven games.
Araujo has used his centre-back instincts to great effect on the right, adding further strength to a defence led by Van Dijk and backed by Alisson Becker.
Iraola says of Araujo: “Yes it definitely helps having a centre-back at right-back when we talk about defending set-pieces.
“It helps a bit with the height and the physicality of the team, you know. It helps us to defend better but it is true that you lose a little bit also offensively on the other side.
“Offensively we cannot demand of Ronald the same thing of other full-backs and what they give us. But we have to balance this with other positions and other patterns.”
“In terms of results we are now probably in the best place but even in the first bunch of games I think, the two draws at the beginning condition everything else.
“Apart from that most of the results have been good, no? We still need to improve a lot like many of the teams right now, especially those who have changed managers.
“We need to keep improving a lot, this is normal, we knew this [would happen]. The good thing is we are improving while getting good results.”
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