No mental BLOCK over defending set-pieces insists Virgil

PRACTICE KEY TO REDS IMPROVING - VAN DIJK

- By IAN DOYLE Chief LFC Writer

VIRGIL VAN DIJK hopes Liverpool haven't developed a mental block when it comes to set-pieces after their major shortcoming was again exposed on Saturday.

The Reds were cruising to a comfortable home Premier League victory over struggling Wolves through first-half goals by Ryan Gravenberch and Florian Wirtz when visiting defender Santiago Bueno scored from a corner shortly after the interval.

It made for a nervy second half with Arne Slot’s eventually holding on for a 2-1 triumph in much the same manner they eked out a win at Tottenham Hotspur the previous weekend.

The goal was just the second Wolves had scored from a set-piece in the Premier League this season with the Midlanders the only club less effective at netting from dead-ball situations in the top flight than Liverpool.

No club has conceded more times from such positions than the Reds in the Premier League with their set-piece balance - the difference between goals scored and conceded - now standing at minus nine, the worst such figure in the division.

And Liverpool captain Van Dijk said: "There have been plenty of games when we have defended them very well. But the fact is we've conceded too many set-piece goals and we don’t score enough.