Arne Slot has turned Liverpool into beasts during most unexpected phase of play, Burnley beware
Arne Slot has made Liverpool a seriously effective team in one particular game situation and they look set to exploit Burnley’s weaknesses with it this weekend.
Liverpool walked to the Premier League title last season ahead of Arsenal and Man City, and they look on track to emulate their success this term after three wins in their first three league games.
Slot’s side have battled hard to achieve maximum points up to now, with a 4-2 win against Bournemouth on the opening weekend followed up by a 3-2 victory at Newcastle as Rio Ngumoha netted a dramatic late winner.
Liverpool saw off Arsenal last time out with a 1-0 win thanks to Dominik Szoboszlai’s fine free-kick, and now they are aiming to continue their strong start with another triumph against Burnley on Sunday (14 September).
The Clarets are already massive underdogs heading into the clash, despite having home advantage, but there is a specific factor that could lead to their demise when they least expect it at Turf Moor.
Liverpool are the Premier League’s best immediately after defending corners
Liverpool have scored the most goals of any Premier League team so far this season, with eight strikes in three games, and they are joint-top of the rankings when it comes to goals scored within 30 seconds of Slot’s side defending a corner from their own box since the start of last season, with two.
They have also mustered nine shots within 30 seconds of defending corners since the start of 2024-25, which is a clear league-high, and only the likes of Brighton and Tottenham come close with seven shots each using the same metric.
According to a report from The Athletic in April, the rate of counter-attacks per 100 corners in the 2024-25 season (3.1) had been higher than the previous two, with 2022-23 at around 2.9 and 2023-24 at around 2.8 per 100 corners, so the Reds are clearly leading a growing trend.
In terms of counter-attacks per 100 defensive corners in the Premier League last season, based off that April report, Liverpool’s rate of 9.3 led the way and was far out in front of Chelsea in second, who produced 6.1 counter-attacks per 100 defensive corners.
Burnley will ironically have to be very wary when it comes to setting up to not be caught on the break if they win an attacking corner on Sunday, as a result, as Slot’s side could strike when they least expect it on the counter.
Corner to counter: Three Liverpool patterns to watch out for
- Near-post win, wall pass, diagonal switch.
One way in which Liverpool will likely aim to make Burnley pay from their own corner is by winning the first header at the near post, then passing to the edge of the box on that side before switching a through ball to the other side of the pitch to a runner who is sprinting beyond the halfway line.
- Keeper claims, flat throw to touchline, third-man run.
Another could see Alisson catch it immediately from the cross, then quickly release it to a winger like Mo Salah, before the striker, potentially Alexander Isak making his Liverpool debut, makes the out-to-in sprint for the slip.
- Blocked shot at edge of D, first touch out, second touch forward.
This could happen if the ball is cleared and Burnley aim to shoot on the edge of the box, with a Liverpool midfielder like Alexis Mac Allister using an escape touch to break the press, then passing it vertically to an attacker who then runs forward before the hosts can reload and get players back.