New set-piece kings Liverpool can still achieve 'something beautiful'

The last time Liverpool had scored five goals in a Premier League game, the sun was out as they clinched the title with a 5-1 win over Tottenham in April 2025.

The conditions were similar on Saturday when they put five past West Ham and, after a largely turbulent season so far, the reality is that the Reds are heading into March with a spring in their step.

Arne Slot's side were far from wholly convincing against a relegation-battling West Ham, but the raw numbers show a team heading in the right direction as they now sit fifth in the Premier League, just three points off third.

"I could feel the nervousness inside the stadium," Slot said, after a strange game where Liverpool were clinical if not always in control.

But they have won four of five Premier League games in a short space of time now, which is as many wins as they managed in their previous 13 (D6 L3). Things are certainly improving for a side trying to salvage their season.

Already, Slot has admitted that it would not be an acceptable season if the reigning champions did not qualify for the Champions League, and in recent weeks Liverpool have made it their business to at least move towards that minimum objective.

Earlier this campaign, failure to get there was looking a distinct possibility after a string of poor results, a falling-out with talisman Mohamed Salah and an injury to record signing Alexander Isak.

Liverpool have now restored their know-how when it comes to winning football matches - be that through late winners, gutsy displays on the road or simply improving their output from set-pieces.

The belief is returning at Anfield.

Since the turn of the year, Liverpool have scored more goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties) than any other side in the league.

Seven of Liverpool's most recent nine Premier League goals have come from set-pieces (5 x corner, 1 x direct free-kick, 1 x throw-in), one more than in their first 38 goals of the season. All three of Liverpool's goals in the first half against West Ham came from corners.

"It's very pleasing because firstly that is the reason we have won," said Slot.

"Second of all, people said well played, and in my opinion we have been better when we lost and better when we conceded from set-pieces.

"The first half of the season, almost every set-piece we conceded went in. Now we start scoring from set-pieces and things start looking brighter and better than when you don't."

At the end of 2025, former set-piece coach Aaron Briggs left the club. The existing coaching staff at Anfield have absorbed his duties.

When asked what had changed about his team, Slot said: "Things went back to normal.

"We have created quite a lot of chances in the first half of the season that too many times did not go in. Maybe one or two small details have changed defensively and offensively.

"Our set-up is slightly different, but the biggest reason is that things go back to normal. There was a time when we were 23 goals behind Arsenal, including penalties, and we have closed the gap a bit."

There is a school of thought among some fans that a good season is one where your team still has plenty to play for come April.

Liverpool will not be winning back-to-back Premier League titles, but they will head into March still in the FA Cup and the Champions League and now in a strong position to finish in the top five, which would effectively confirm Champions League football next season.

At the end of a week in which the club confirmed record revenues of over £700m for the last accounting year, with a profit after tax of £8m, the importance of that European spot cannot be underestimated.

Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who scored Liverpool's third goal, told Match of the Day: "The last four or five months is when teams show what they can do.

"That's what we want. We know how important it is to qualify for the Champions League for the club and us as a team. The goal is there and we are going to do everything to qualify and be closer to the teams on top."

Team-mate Cody Gakpo took a similar view, telling Sky Sports: "It was a good afternoon. Step by step, we're getting [to be] a better team.

"We had a difficult moment during the season, but hopefully these last few games are the start of something beautiful."

With consecutive games against Wolves in the league and FA Cup next week, before a trip to Galatasaray in the Champions League, the next 10 days or so will go a long way to shaping how their season ultimately is remembered.

Get through that unscathed and, whisper it quietly, Liverpool fans may well start to genuinely believe that they can do something beautiful indeed.