Liverpool trial specialist throw-ins coach

The Reds are trialling the services of Thomas Gronnemark with their academy kids — and will roll out the experiment with the first-team too if it proves successful.

The Merseysiders are the first English team to have admitted using the Dane, who has devoted himself to his set-piece art during the past 15 years.

Gronnemark uses video analysis to school players in how to best use throw-ins to maximum effect, most obviously in the opponents' final third.

He estimates the two teams in Denmark's top-flight he has coached added an extra 20 goals to their tally between them due to improved technique.

While Liverpool are in no way reliant on hit-and-hope tactics, those statistics would provide any top-level boss such as Jurgen Klopp with food for thought.

Position-specific coaches are now commonplace in the Premier League, and Gronnemark clearly feels that, with more careful deployment, teams can use it to great advantage.

He bills himself as the world’s leading exponent of the art — and has launched the ball over 50 metres.

His greatest success came with Danish side Midtjylland three years ago, with their long throws causing particular problems during a successful run in the Europa League.

He said: “Midtjylland have showed that the long throw-in can be a weapon, if you can do it with the correct technique, precision and tactical awareness.

“It’s very important that it’s a flat throw-in, because if it’s too high it’s easy to defend.

“If you can make a long throw-in precise and flat, together with some tactical aspects, then it’s much easier to score.”

Source: Daily Mirror

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