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Liverpool boss Arne Slot has expressed his distaste for the current state of Premier League football, admitting that games are not ‘a joy to watch’.
Set-pieces have become more important than ever in the top flight, with leaders Arsenal having utilised them as a key weapon this season.
This was an issue for Slot’s side earlier in the season, leading to set-piece coach Aaron Briggs being given the chop.
The Premier League champions have since had to adapt their style of play, and adapt they have. The Reds have more non-penalty set-piece goals in the league than any other side.
Three of Liverpool’s goals in Saturday’s 5-2 win against West Ham came from corners, all in the first half, as Slot continues to take a leaf out of Mikel Arteta’s book as the Merseyside club revive their season.
However, while the Dutchman has shown willingness to change his approach to suit the league this season, he is not a fan.
Arne Slot has admitted he does not like how the Premier League has become reliant on set-pieces
Liverpool scored three of their five goals against West Ham on Saturday from corners
In his pre-match press conference for Tuesday’s clash with Wolves, Slot said: ‘You have to accept it. I think it’s mainly here in the Premier League. If I watch other leagues, I don’t think there’s so much emphasis on set-pieces.
‘If I watch an Eredivisie game, which I still do, I see goals being disallowed and fouls on goalkeepers being given and I think “wow, that’s a big difference”. Here, you can almost hit a goalkeeper in his face and the referee still says “just go on”.
‘Do I like it? My football heart doesn’t like it. If you ask me about football, I think about the Barcelona team from 10, 15 years ago. Every Sunday evening you were hoping they would play.’
Liverpool travel to Molineux for the first of two away trips to Wolves this week, looking to make it four Premier League wins on the spin against the division’s basement boys.
While Rob Edwards’ side are doomed for the drop, sitting 14 points from safety, they come into the clash on the back of a derby day win against Aston Villa.
And Slot, while he won’t like the football on display, knows he is in for a difficult clash.
He added: ‘Most of the games I see in the Premier League are not for me a joy to watch, but it’s always interesting because it’s so competitive and that is what makes this league great – because there’s so much competitiveness.
‘Everyone can win against everyone, but just as someone who loves to watch football, without being interested in who’s winning or losing it, just to be enjoyed, I think there’s a big difference now between three or four years ago in the Premier League.
‘Teams have become so much stronger – three or four years ago, when the top clubs faced the No 18, 17, 16, 15 [in the table], it could have been a four or five goals difference, and that’s usually what you like.
League leaders Arsenal have scored a record-equalling 16 goals from corners this season
‘If there’s so much difference between the teams, then one team is really good, but that’s not the situation anymore.
‘It’s not only about the set-pieces, it’s also because so many teams have become very strong. But we’re not going to change.
‘Maybe in five or 10 years’ time things will change again but I wouldn’t be surprised if you went to an under-16s game somewhere, Sunday League football, if you see teams completely being focused on set-pieces. That’s the new reality.’
