The cyclical nature of tactical evolution in football means that when something is in vogue, it’s only a matter of time before everyone catches up.
The increased focus on attacking corners in the Premier League in the last couple of seasons — accompanied by the rise of set-piece specialists — correlated with a hike in the number of goals scored from corners.
However, the defensive aspect of corners is equally important. The recent threat of attacking corners in the Premier League has logically been followed by a focus on defending from corners. Has it worked?
First, we need to look at the rate of goals per 100 of them taken in each season — looking at the per-corner stats allows us to level the playing field when comparing across seasons, as one given year might have more corners than another.
Since 2007-08, when Opta started collecting corner data, the highest number of goals scored per 100 corners was last season’s 4.2.
That number has significantly dropped this season to 3.3 goals per 100 corners — the lowest it has been since 2019-20.
In addition, the average quality of chances from corners has decreased this season. Looking at expected goals (xG) per 100 corners in the Premier League, this season’s 3.6 is lower than the last three seasons, which suggests teams are better at defending corners in 2024-25 (there could have been a drop-off on the attacking side of things, so we can’t be certain).
Two particular trends in the last couple of seasons have been short corners and attacking routines using players positioned by the edge of the penalty area. To nullify those tactics, defending teams have been positioning one or two players in zonal roles near the penalty spot.
When adding up the above, it partly provides us with an explanation of why there has been a slight uptick in counter-attacks by teams when defending corners in the Premier League this season.
The seeming improvement in defending corners across the league has resulted in more opportunities to attack on the counter, and the fact that one or two players are initially in a higher defensive position in the penalty area increases the probability of striking on transition.
Looking at counter-attacks from corners in the Premier League — defined as possessions from defensive corners that start in a team’s own half and result in either a shot or a touch inside the opposition penalty area within 15 seconds — the rate of counter-attacks per 100 corners this season (3.1) is higher than the previous two.
One team that has been most threatening on counter-attacks from defensive corners in the 2024-25 Premier League season is Liverpool. Arne Slot’s team excel in transitional situations, which makes them dangerous once the defensive corner is cleared.
In terms of counter-attacks per 100 defensive corners in the Premier League this season, Liverpool’s rate of 9.3 leads the way.
On top of their transitional threat, Liverpool’s solidity at defending corners has allowed them more opportunities to strike on the counter. This season, Slot’s side has conceded the third-fewest goals per 100 corners (1.6) and the second-lowest xG per 100 corners (2.7) in the Premier League.
On defensive corners, Liverpool position Mohamed Salah and their left-winger, Luis Diaz or Cody Gakpo, in zonal roles by the penalty spot and near post to allow them to break quickly in case of a counter-attack.
If there’s a possibility of a short corner, Liverpool’s left-winger is the player tasked with defending it while Salah maintains his zonal role near the penalty spot.
However, another variation of Liverpool’s defensive setup consists of using Trent Alexander-Arnold to defend the short option as the left-winger is tasked with a zonal role by the near post and Salah is in his usual position.
Alexander-Arnold’s passing ability is another useful tool for attacking transitions, and putting him in this defensive role serves the counter-attack as well.
Liverpool scored twice from counter-attacking on defensive corners in the Premier League this season, and the positioning of Salah and Diaz was instrumental to the goals.
In this example, against Brentford in August, Salah is near the penalty spot and Diaz is defending against the short option when Mathias Jensen’s cross is cleared by Ibrahima Konate.
The initial defensive position of Salah and Diaz puts them in the right place to attack on the counter when the corner is cleared.
Salah tries to find Diaz at the beginning of the transition, but Vitaly Janelt blocks his pass. Fortunately for Liverpool, Diogo Jota picks up the loose ball and carries it forward before finding Diaz, who puts the ball into the back of the net (footage is cued up below).
Of course, the rise in counter-attacks from defensive corners is not just due to corner tactics — the increasingly transitional nature of the Premier League since last season is another factor.
The majority of Premier League teams now have players who have the physicality and ability to thrive in transitional situations. Whether stamina, pace or dribbling ability, a run from one penalty box to the other isn’t out of reach for most Premier League players.
But setup plays a major part in the trend, and as the cycle of corner tactics continues, teams will find newer methods to exploit defensive organisations and reduce the threat of counter-attacks.
The trick is to always be on top as the tactical cycle revolves.
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