Arne Slott on free kicks: Premier League matches are not fun to watch

Liverpool Manager Arne Slott says most Premier League matches are no longer “fun to watch” and that his “football heart doesn’t like” the focus on set-pieces this season.

Of the total goals scored in the league this season, 27.5% were non-penalty goals – the second highest rate since the 2009-10 season.

Arsenal’s prowess from set-pieces was a key part of their title challenge, as they scored 16 goals from corner kicks – three more than anyone else – which equaled the most in a single season in the Premier League.

All three of Liverpool’s goals in the first half of their 5-2 win over West Ham United on Saturday came from corner kicks.

Set-piece coach Aaron Briggs left Anfield on December 30, and Slot’s side have scored the most goals in the league from set-pieces in 2026, excluding penalties.

“You have to accept that,” Slott said. “I think it’s mainly here in the Premier League. If you watch other leagues, I don’t think there’s as much emphasis on set-pieces.

“If I watch an Eredivisie match, which I still do, I see goals being disallowed and fouls on goalkeepers, and I think that’s a big difference. Here, you can almost hit the goalkeeper in the face and the referee still says ‘just keep going.’

“Do I like that? My football heart doesn’t like that. If you ask me about football, I think about the Barcelona team of 10 or 15 years ago. Every Sunday evening you hope they will play.

“Now, most of the matches I watch in the Premier League are not fun to watch, but they are always interesting because they are very competitive.

“That’s what makes this league great because there’s a lot of competition. Everyone can beat everyone.”

Slott accepted that set-pieces are the “new reality of the Premier League” and believes they could become a theme at youth level.

The Dutchman added while reviewing Tuesday’s match against Wolverhampton Wanderers: “We will not change that.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if you went to watch a league match on a Sunday now and the 16-year-olds were completely focused on set-pieces.”