Liverpool FC Faces Set-Piece Challenge: Over-Reliance on Alexander-Arnold After Coutinho's 2018 Departure

Since Philippe Coutinho's move to Barcelona in January 2018, Liverpool FC has relied heavily on Trent Alexander-Arnold for direct free-kick goals, with him scoring eight in all competitions. Despite ranking fourth in the Premier League for such goals since 2016, only two players have contributed, highlighting an over-reliance on Alexander-Arnold. With his potential transfer to Real Madrid, Liverpool urgently needs a new set-piece specialist. Candidates like Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have shown potential but lack consistent success, emphasizing the club's need to address this gap in their strategy.

Coutinho’s Departure and the End of an Era

The last Liverpool player to score a direct free kick in the Premier League before Alexander-Arnold’s emergence was Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian midfielder curled home a set piece in a 5-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion in December 2017. Just a month later, he completed a £125 million move to Barcelona, leaving a creative void in Liverpool’s midfield and, crucially, in their set-piece arsenal.

Coutinho’s departure marked the end of Liverpool’s multi-pronged threat from dead-ball situations. Since then, no other player apart from Alexander-Arnold has scored a direct free kick in the Premier League for the club.

Alexander-Arnold: A One-Man Set-Piece Department

Trent Alexander-Arnold made his European debut in August 2017, scoring a free kick against Hoffenheim in a Champions League qualifier. That moment signaled the beginning of his role as Liverpool’s primary set-piece taker. Over the years, he has refined his technique, becoming proficient at striking from various distances and angles.

In the Premier League, Alexander-Arnold has scored six goals from direct free kicks. Across all competitions, that number rises to eight. His most recent came in a 3-1 away win against Fulham on April 21, 2024. No other Liverpool player has matched his output or consistency from dead-ball situations.

Since his debut in December 2016, Liverpool have scored 11 direct free-kick goals in the Premier League — the fourth-highest total in that span, behind Southampton (17), Manchester City (15), and Chelsea (12). However, only two players have contributed to that tally, with Alexander-Arnold responsible for the vast majority.

Salah, Szoboszlai, and the Supporting Cast

Despite his prolific scoring record in open play, Mohamed Salah has never scored a direct free kick for Liverpool. He has attempted 17 shots from such situations in the Premier League without success. In recent seasons, Salah has largely stepped aside, attempting just one direct free kick in each of the last two campaigns — against Manchester United in January 2025 and Nottingham Forest in October 2023.

Dominik Szoboszlai, who joined Liverpool in 2023, has taken 10 direct free-kick shots without scoring. While he has a better record at international level with Hungary, he has yet to replicate that success at Anfield.

Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott have also been given opportunities. Mac Allister has taken three direct free kicks, with two hitting the woodwork. Elliott, also with three attempts, has yet to find the net. Virgil van Dijk, once a surprising threat from free kicks, has not attempted one since August 2023, when he tried to lob the goalkeeper from the halfway line in a 3-1 win over Bournemouth.

A Decline in Free-Kick Opportunities

Liverpool’s lack of goals from direct free kicks is not solely due to poor execution. The team has also struggled to win free kicks in dangerous central areas. Their attacking play, often channeled through wide areas via Salah and Luis Díaz, results in set pieces that are more suited to crossing than shooting.

In the 2024-25 season, Liverpool are one of 11 Premier League teams yet to score from a direct free kick. They also rank second-lowest in the league for the number of shots taken from such situations — a reflection of both tactical tendencies and a lack of central fouls drawn.

The Impending Departure of Alexander-Arnold

With Alexander-Arnold’s contract set to expire at the end of the 2024-25 season, and a move to Real Madrid reportedly imminent, Liverpool are on the verge of losing their only reliable free-kick taker. The 26-year-old has missed four league games this season due to injury and started another three on the bench, further highlighting the team’s vulnerability in his absence.

His departure will leave a significant void, not just in open play but in set-piece situations. Liverpool’s inability to develop a secondary option over the past seven years now looms large.

The Search for a Successor

As Liverpool prepare for life without Alexander-Arnold, the question remains: who will take over free-kick duties?

Mac Allister appears to be the most technically capable candidate, with a polished shooting technique and near-misses that suggest potential. Szoboszlai, despite his poor conversion rate so far, has the pedigree to improve. Elliott’s future role in the squad remains uncertain, and Salah, despite his stature, is unlikely to assume the responsibility given his track record.

The club’s recruitment strategy this summer may need to include a specialist in dead-ball situations — a skill set that has become increasingly rare across the Premier League. With only 12 direct free-kick goals scored across the league so far this season, the second-lowest total since 1997-98, Liverpool are not alone in their struggles. But their over-reliance on a single player has made the issue more acute.

Liverpool FC Faces Set-Piece Challenge: Over-Reliance on Alexander-Arnold After Coutinho's 2018 Departure

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