#long-throws

#long-throws

Whether it's questioning Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo's ability to perform on a cold, rainy night in the Potteries, or being written off as a team of agricultural bruisers and set-piece behemoths, Stoke fans of that era heard it all. But according to former Stoke midfielder Rory Delap, this physicality on its own was not enough to see the Potters establish themselves as a Premier League team and enjoy a ten-year spell in the top flight.

The International Football Association Board (Ifab) has discussed the possibility of limiting how long a player can spend on a throw-in, in a bid to increase the amount of time the ball is in play during a match. Goalkeepers are limited in the amount of time they can hold on to the ball after new measures were introduced this season. A corner is now awarded if a keeper fails to release the ball within eight seconds.

Liverpool knew Kayode's aerial bombardments were coming. It's the only thing we did yesterday [in preparation] on the training pitch, an exasperated Slot told the written media afterwards, and in the team meeting today. But prior knowledge does not always mean a solution. When Kayode winds up there is a genuine sense of anticipation, a stoppage in time. Unless, that is, you or your team are tasked with defending against his throws.

It's weirdly difficult [to defend long throws]. The day before a game you practise defending corners and free-kicks but not long throws. Because it's coming in from a different angle, it creates chaos. It's something teams should work on more.

Anthony Markanich expressed a unique enthusiasm for set pieces, stating, 'I get so excited about that' when speaking about throw-ins that lead to scoring opportunities.