Andoni Iraola has pointed to Ronald Araújo as a crucial element in Liverpool’s dramatic improvement at defending set pieces ahead of their upcoming clash with Arsenal.
Defensive Transformation Under Slot
Liverpool have not conceded a single set-piece goal in the Premier League this season and have let in only one overall—a consolation header by Conor Gallagher for Tottenham in a Carabao Cup defeat at Anfield in September. This defensive solidity represents a major turnaround from last term, when Arne Slot’s squad leaked 20 non-penalty set-piece goals in the Premier League, tying with Crystal Palace and Bournemouth for the worst record in the competition.
The Liverpool head coach attributes this season’s success to his backroom staff, including assistants Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper alongside the club analysts, while emphasizing the impact of new signing Araújo.
“It definitely helps having a centre-back at right-back when we talk about defending set pieces,” Iraola stated, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Víctor Muñoz potentially returning from injury for the weekend. “It helps with the height and the physicality of the team.”
However, the manager noted that this tactical choice involves a trade-off in the attacking phase. “It helps us to defend better but it is true that you also lose a little bit offensively on the other side. Offensively we cannot demand of Ronald the same thing as other full-backs and what they give us, but we have to balance this with other patterns,” he explained.
Facing the Arsenal Threat
Arsenal netted 25 non-penalty set-piece goals during their title-winning campaign last season, though they have been slower to replicate that dominance in the current term.
“It is very early in the season and they hadn’t scored [from set pieces] until last weekend and now they have scored,” Iraola observed. “I hope they stay that way for a while but they are a big threat.”
The manager added that the opposition boasts exceptional height and aerial ability that will severely test his backline on Sunday. “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 Arsenal is probably the biggest challenge,” he concluded.
