Set pieces and penalties

[Chrono]

I'm no statatician but I put together some data on our quality of set pieces and penalties in terms of returns from the two and did this in relation to Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal as a comparison.

I thought this might be interesting in relation to Andy Carroll, wingers, our perceived delivery from dead ball situations, etc. Apologies for it all looking a bit ****ty.

[Chrono]

Results for league winners in the last 6 seasons:

Highest goals scored = 5/6 seasons
Highest number of set piece goals = 3/6 seasons
Highest percentage of goals from set pieces = 2/6 seasons

[Rudo]

Interesting stats pal

Stevie Wonder can see that the delivery from set pieces in this Liverpool side is abysmal and this has been the case for years.

Needs addressing this summer with new players but also the current crop - Gerrard and Meireles' delivery is ****.
Aurelio's the best at set pieces at LFC but we all know the story there.

[Craig_H]

The problem is numbers in the box and knowing how to attack the ball, not delivery.

[Rudo]

The last dead ball specialist at Liverpool was 35 year old Gary Mac.

Super Dan wasn't bad either, but he wasn't always allowed to take them.

[RichC]

The problem is numbers in the box and knowing how to attack the ball, not delivery.

it's a combination - the number of times I've seen us not beat the first man from freekicks and corners the past few seasons is criminal.

[Craig_H]

it's a combination - the number of times I've seen us not beat the first man from freekicks and corners the past few seasons is criminal.

You think that doesnt happen loads with every other club too?

[RichC]

You think that doesnt happen loads with every other club too?

Of course it does but other clubs also provide a lot better balls into the box than we have these past few seasons - without the delivery in the first place the number in the box is irrelevant and without having ample numbers you're not going to get your fair share of goals from set pieces when the ball is decent.

So as I said it's a combination.

[Craig_H]

I'm really not sure how we can compare the quality of balls into the box with those of other clubs, when we watch LFC for 90 mins every game, and about 10 mins on average for other clubs.

I dont think our delivery is significantly worse than most other clubs, on average. We just seriously lack players who take up the right positions, make the right runs and attack the ball in the air.

[RichC]

well from the number of goals coming from set pieces from other clubs I think that shows you that they're dealing with both aspects well.

You can't tell me that we don't practice set pieces, where to put the ball in and the runs that should be made - that's 101 training even at non league level, these runs I am sure are made as is the movement but if the ball isn't put in right area's time after time you're not going to get the goals you'd expect to see.

[Exiled_red]

Interesting stats but to really know how good we are at set pieces we need to know what percentage of freekicks and corners we score from compared to everyone else. If they have 25% more freekicks and score 25% more goals from them, then we are as productive from ste pieces as they are.

[RichC]

Interesting stats but to really know how good we are at set pieces we need to know what percentage of freekicks and corners we score from compared to everyone else. If they have 25% more freekicks and score 25% more goals from them, then we are as productive from freekicks as they are.

that is also a good point - I'd be shocked if the numbers were that high though

[Exiled_red]

that is also a good point - I'd be shocked if the numbers were that high though

The teams we are comparing to have either played more attacking football, or have players who are quite 'good at winning freekicks', and we have at times played some fairly negative and poor stuff so to be honest I wouldn't rule something close to that out.

[RichC]

The teams we are comparing to have either played more attacking football, or have players who are quite 'good at winning freekicks', and we have at times played some fairly negative and poor stuff so to be honest I wouldn't rule something close to that out.

it is possible but I still don't think we've been good enough from set pieces and we haven't been for a while.

I fully expect this to be one area Kenny looks to address in the summer

[Rudo]

it is possible but I still don't think we've been good enough from set pieces and we haven't been for a while.

I fully expect this to be one area Kenny looks to address in the summer

new personnel will obviously help and the likes of Gerrard, Meireles and co working hard on the training field practicing set piece delivery.

It's no big deal to say we need to improve this aspect of the game - you get the feeling people disagree just for the sake of it.

Leighton Baines, what a signing he'd be. Just can't see it happening though