West Brom boss Tony Pulis plans to exploit Liverpool's frailties from set-plays at The Hawthorns: 'Both boxes will have to be defended well'

  • West Brom exposed Arsenal's zonal marking in their most recent win last month 
  • Defender Craig Dawson headed to goals against the Gunners in the 3-1 win 
  • Tony Pulis's side welcome Liverpool to The Hawthorns and hope to do the same
  • West Brom have failed to score in their last three outings in the Premier League

West Brom exposed the frailties of zonal marking against Arsenal recently and Baggies boss Tony Pulis thinks his team might be able to do the same when Liverpool visit The Hawthorns.

Arsene Wenger is an exponent of the often criticised system and it played into the hands of West Brom last month when defender Craig Dawson headed two goals from corners in a 3-1 home win against the Gunners.


Like the Arsenal boss, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also likes his side to defend areas rather than man-mark players.

West Brom boss Tony Pulis is looking to exploit Liverpool's use of zonal marking from set-plays

West Brom boss Tony Pulis is looking to exploit Liverpool's use of zonal marking from set-plays

The Baggies used a similar tactic against Arsenal last month in their 3-1 win over the Gunners

The Baggies used a similar tactic against Arsenal last month in their 3-1 win over the Gunners

Pulis, whose team have scored 18 times from set-pieces this season - more than any other Premier League side, thinks it could be a way to get at Liverpool on Sunday but also accepts that the Reds pose a threat from balls into the penalty area too.

'It's something we can take advantage of, very much so,' said Pulis. 'But we've watched tapes back again in the last couple of days and they're very good on set-plays themselves and if they go with the three centre halves, they're a big team and they can be really dangerous. They get good quality in.

'I think both boxes will have to be defended well off set-plays, but we work on certain things and we understand what we're trying to do as a group.

'The biggest thing is to make sure everyone understands where they should be in their starting positions.'

Craig Dawson headed home twice from corners and Pulis hopes the same tactics work again

Craig Dawson headed home twice from corners and Pulis hopes the same tactics work again

Since those goals against Arsenal, West Brom have failed to score in the three Premier League games which have followed.

Should they draw another blank against Liverpool, Pulis' players will earn themselves an unwanted record of becoming the first Albion team since Gary Megson's relegated 2002-03 squad to go four top-flight matches without finding the net.

Pulis said his team have been working on their attacking play and finishing this week.

'We've been doing shooting and finishing,' he said. 'We've highlighted the fact we've got into some wonderful positions and we've not hit the target.

Liverpool also adopt similar set-piece tactics to Arsenal from dead-ball situations

Liverpool also adopt similar set-piece tactics to Arsenal from dead-ball situations

However West Brom have not scored since that game, drawing blanks on three occasions 

However West Brom have not scored since that game, drawing blanks on three occasions 

Pulis believes his team have been 'wayward' in their last two outings and need to put it right

Pulis believes his team have been 'wayward' in their last two outings and need to put it right

'That's been the biggest disappointment. We've been hitting people in the stands more regularly than we've been hitting the goal.

'We've certainly got to make sure that when we get in there, we concentrate more on finishing and hitting that target. Even if the keeper saves it, someone else can tap it in.

'We've been really wayward in the last two games. Like I say, we've had something like 37 or 38 shots on goal in the last two Premier League games but we've only had four or five shots on target. That ratio is not what we want.

'I think it's concentration more than anything else, there have been lapses as much as anything else.' 

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