Set Pieces

I think one of the biggest impacts of losing Coutinho will be at set pieces. The Brazilian has/had made huge strides. In this area over the last two years and I would argue his direct free kicks are better than Suarez (our last decent FK taker - Stevies' weren't so good in the final few years). He was able to put them in either corner with power, can dink them over the wall and we've seen him score a couple by passing them under a jumping wall. His delivery at indirect kicks was also very good, his corners less so but still better than the hapless Milner who's delivery at Corners is shocking (no whip, always high, always floated).

When Suarez went we had a year or two where we really weren't much of a threat. Who does the job from here on?

TAA looks like the long term heir apparent and he has already scored a free kick this early in his career and Klopp has praised the dedication that he (and young Woodburn) have shown on the training ground. Obviously he isn't always in the team but when he does play I hope that Klopp gives the order for him To take the kicks otherwise the more senior players will grab the ball. Players like Can and Hendo will all fancy it but they can't strike a ball to save themselves.

Can Salah take a free kick? He certainly strikes a ball cleanly so I guess we'll find out in the next couple of months.

A couple of people mentioned VVD for free kicks, I've not seen him hit one before.

For indirect free kicks I've been really impressed with Oxlades' delivery over the past couple of games, he has hit them with good pace and whip and they have been difficult to defend, the same applies to his corners in the derby. With VVD in the side we are now very dangerous at set pieces so long as the delivery is good. With coutinho gone Ox will have more opportunities to feature so I would give him the nod. However, I wouldn't let him anywhere near the direct kicks.

Just don't let Milner anywhere near them he is gash.

If we are going to replace Coutinho and I've got a feeling we won't in this window, we should be looking for someone who can come me in and be a deadball specialist as well.

I've seen videos of Van Dijk's direct free kicks , he's decent. Ox looks set to be on corners, although I wasn't impressed against Everton.
With VD coming forward for set pieces, there's a great chance for goals now, we need to be clearing the first man every time.

I've seen videos of Van Dijk's direct free kicks , he's decent. Ox looks set to be on corners, although I wasn't impressed against Everton.
With VD coming forward for set pieces, there's a great chance for goals now, we need to be clearing the first man every time.

You do know we scored the wi. We from an Ox corner dude? I thought his delivery was pretty good meself.

You do know we scored the wi. We from an Ox corner dude? I thought his delivery was pretty good meself.

Didn't Everton score their equaliser from his corner as well.

With regards to corners though helps if you've got someone to get on the end of them and for that reason - van Dijk should be a little bit easier to find / or take the attention of the biggest opposition centre-backs.

Coutinho was alright at free kicks but he only scored 5 free kicks in 5 years in the league so let's not rewrite history on the set piece thing.  Don't remember his corners as being stand out and Milner and Chamberlain are often preferred over him to take them.

Didn't Everton score their equaliser from his corner as well.

With regards to corners though helps if you've got someone to get on the end of them and for that reason - van Dijk should be a little bit easier to find / or take the attention of the biggest opposition centre-backs.

Coutinho was alright at free kicks but he only scored 5 free kicks in 5 years in the league so let's not rewrite history on the set piece thing.  Don't remember his corners as being stand out and Milner and Chamberlain are often preferred over him to take them.

Funny thing is the corner they scored from looked like it could be a nice play if it was intentional i.e. Drilled low, Mane jaxxed it but there was no one behind him to drill the thing in the net!

Be interesting to see if those 5 have all come in last couple of years JD? I'm pretty sure the first one he scored was in the game cup loss to west ham a couple of seasons ago.