Declan Rice has pushed back against what he called disproportionate criticism of Arsenal’s use of set pieces, saying the attention stems from the team doing them well. Rice told The i Paper he found the reaction puzzling. “Everyone talks about it and then everyone does it—so it’s confusing!” he said. “But they’re not doing it to the level that we do it. You can see that when you’re seeing teams take corners. We can still get better and that’s the good thing about it.”

The debate has been heightened in recent weeks. After Arsenal beat Chelsea 2–1 earlier this month in a match that produced three set-piece goals, Liverpool manager Arne Slot criticised the direction of the modern game, insisting it was “not a pleasure ” to watch as he questioned the reluctance to punish excess physicality in the penalty area.

Tottenham Hotspur winger Mathys Tel echoed those concerns during an appearance on ZACK, describing corners as chaotic. “We’re all bunched together, everyone’s pushing, knocking each other to the ground, holding on to each other,” Tel lamented. “Forget it. The goalkeeper can no longer get out, he can no longer see.” He added a broader observation on the league: “I’m going to tell the truth, yes [it’s less exciting]. In the sense that it’s no longer a show, it’s really annoying to watch.

“There are fewer spectacles. There isn’t a Vinicius [Junior] pulling off a sombrero, dribbling past you, or a Kylian [Mbappé] bursting past you. Here, I’d say it’s more structured, maybe too much so, with clear ideas, all the set pieces, little details that can sometimes make the difference. But sometimes you think it might be too much.”

That critique met public defence from Wayne Rooney on his self-titled podcast. Rooney, Manchester United’s all-time top scorer, praised Arsenal’s approach and argued coaches should exploit set pieces. “I’ve heard a lot of people talking about Arsenal and the way they’re playing but I think they’ve been brilliant,” Rooney argued. “The set pieces are part of football—why would you not use it? They put bodies in the box, if teams aren’t clever enough or haven’t got the players to deal with it, why wouldn’t Arsenal continue to do that?

“I would be doing it even more if I was Mikel Arteta. It’s part of the game and I love it. They don’t have to change anything. They maybe haven’t scored as many goals from open play as they would like but they’ve made up for it in other ways. ]

Liverpool manager Arne Slot offered an upbeat assessment after Alisson picked up a problem in training and was left out of the travelling squad. Slot said the decision was taken after the goalkeeper felt something late in the session and staff concluded there was no point in him making the trip. “Unfortunately he felt something towards the end of the session,” Slot explained. “And it was … people looked at it and we decided and he decided together that it wasn’t good enough to play. And then it’s of no use traveling.”

When asked whether Alisson could be available as soon as Sunday’s meeting with Tottenham Hotspur, Slot added: “There’s definitely a chance, yeah, because we don’t expect it to be a big thing.” The message from the manager was one of cautious optimism while the club monitors the goalkeeper’s recovery.

Liverpool’s squad planning had already included an arrival in goal after they announced a $38.3 million (£29 million) deal to sign Mamardashvili from Valencia in August 2024. The Georgia international, a star of Euro 2024, completed his move to Anfield last summer and was handed opportunities when Alisson suffered an earlier injury in September 2025.

Those opportunities did not produce the required returns. Mamardashvili conceded 10 goals in five Premier League games and has allowed 17 goals in 11 appearances across all competitions. With Alisson available he has been relegated back to the bench and his only appearance since November came in January’s FA Cup third round.

Reports of frustration have followed, but the 25-year-old has stressed patience and hard work. “It is never easy because there is just one goal,” Mamardashvili told club media . “If I don’t play, I don’t mind. I have to work hard every day and that’s it. My time will come for sure. Maybe not this year but my time will come.”

Liverpool moved quickly to secure Ryan Gravenberch with a lucrative six-year deal, but the work on longer-term contracts is far from finished. The club’s attempt to avoid a repeat of last year’s contract turmoil concluded positively when two veteran icons remained at Anfield, but fresh choices now lie ahead. With Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah signing two-year extensions in 2025, Liverpool must plan for multiple high-profile expiries and ensure the next core group are committed.

Curtis Jones
The homegrown Curtis Jones has been underused by Arne Slot this season. His ball security in the build-up and ability to break lines with vertical passes are attributes Liverpool have missed at times. Jones can dally in possession and is less effective when used higher upfield, yet his versatility is valued by the manager and he has occasionally been deployed at right back. With 18 months remaining on his contract, Inter and Tottenham Hotspur showed interest in January, and Liverpool briefly seemed open to selling. No move occurred in the winter, Inter are expected to reignite that interest in the summer, and Spurs could require a player of Jones’s profile if they avoid relegation to the Championship. Liverpool have time to decide, but an attractive offer could prove tempting for an academy graduate.

Alisson
The club now risks losing three superstars in one swoop in 2027 because of the two-year extensions agreed for Van Dijk and Salah in 2025. At 33, Alisson still has several strong years left, but his injury history counts against him. He remains one of the world’s best goalkeepers and could command another major contract. Liverpool’s succession plan, Giorgi Mamardashvili, is yet to convince, with not much to go on yet, so the club may need to revisit its approach to the Brazilian’s future. Another extension may be in the offing.

Alexis Mac Allister
Liverpool’s preferred midfield has not changed since last season, and the club may view the summer as the right window to sell Alexis Mac Allister. He has generally been brilliant for the Reds but has disappointed this year. His current deal runs until 2028, meaning Liverpool could still extract strong value now. Real Madrid have only been tenuously linked. The midfielder’s father recently admitted that there has been no development on the new contract front. Mac Allister, who, according to Capology, earns $201,000 (£150,000) weekly, will see Gravenberch’s bumper new deal and potentially believe he’s worth something similar. Liverpool face a significant decision over the 27-year-old’s future.