Liverpool boss Arne Slot says his 'football heart' isn't a fan of set-piece trend

[p]Last season's champions struggled with dead-ball situations both defensively and in attacking areas earlier in the campaign.[/p][p]But seven of their past nine Premier League goals have come from set pieces, including three following corners in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/liverpool-lId4TMwf/west-ham-Cxq57r8g/?mid=KbUrxW1T"]Saturday's 5-2 win[/a] against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/west-ham/Cxq57r8g/"]West Ham[/a] at Anfield.[/p][p]Premier League leaders [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] are renowned as the set-piece kings and on Sunday scored their 16th goal from a corner this season -- equalling the league record.[/p][p]"First of all, you have to accept it. I think it's mainly here in the Premier League," Slot told reporters on Monday.[/p][p]"[b]If I watch other leagues, I don't think there's so much emphasis on set pieces[/b]."[/p][image alt="Top of Premier League" id="59f6dbd5-619e-44f6-810f-3f0c0698b9fc" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="276a72f7-3199-4932-9db9-571131b14ee6" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] manager said he felt goalkeepers in the Premier League were given less protection by match officials than those in other leagues, such as the Dutch top division.[/p][p]"[b]Here you can almost hit a goalkeeper in his face and the referee still says just go on[/b]," said the Dutchman.[/p][p]"[b]Do I like it? My football heart doesn't like it[/b]."[/p][p]Slot said he used to look forward to watching the great [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] side of Pep Guardiola, who were renowned for their silky, possession-based football.[/p][p]"[b]Now, most of the games I see in the Premier League are not for me a joy to watch[/b]," he said.[/p][p]"[b]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 beat everyone[/b]."[/p][p]Slot, whose team travel to face bottom-side [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/wolves/j3Azpf5d/"]Wolves[/a] on Tuesday, said the set-piece trend was here to stay.[/p][embed guid="31027e43-da39-4af3-a50f-9772e956c9be" url="https://x.com/LFC/status/2028379786616406171" social-type="twitter" /][p]"[b]Maybe in five or ten years' time things will change again, but I wouldn't be surprised if you go to an under-16 game somewhere... I wouldn't be surprised if you see teams completely being focused, 16-year-olds on set-pieces[/b]," he said.[/p][p]"That's the new reality, and I have my opinion about it, but it doesn't change."[/p][p]Fifth-placed Liverpool, who have won seven of their past nine games in all competitions, are in a strong position to qualify for next season's Champions League.[/p][p]Liverpool playmaker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wirtz-florian/0Q5gjImi/"]Florian Wirtz[/a] is expected to miss the Wolves match and Friday's FA Cup game against the same opponents, both taking place at Molineux, due to a back issue.[/p][p]The German missed Liverpool's wins against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nottingham/UsushcZr/"]Nottingham Forest[/a] and West Ham.[/p]