Under manager Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have turned into one of the masters of set pieces in modern football.
With the quality of delivery from fullbacks Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson combined with their attacking ability, the Reds have the ability to outscore almost any opposition in Europe’s top 5 leagues.
So then what’s their secret? Surely, there is something extra being catered to during team training sessions.
A big clue to the answer was revealed by youngster Harvey Elliott who shared an image of him training with electrodes attached to his head which had fans second-guessing for a while.
What is this on his head? pic.twitter.com/v7mQZmIC4X
— e (@Ifcelliot) February 22, 2022
According to multiple reports, it is a brain training device attached to Elliott’s head. It is one of the techniques suggested by German neuroscience company neuro11 which are working with Liverpool to help players reach the optimal mental state for the game.
Neuroscientist Dr Niklas Hausler and his business partner Patrick Hantschke are the co-founders of the company whose methods have already been successful in other sports such as basketball, golf and archery.
Elliott, Salah and Alexander-Arnold are amongst the footballers who had electrodes attached to their heads for data to be collected to have individually curated training programmes be created for each one.
“The physical side in football has almost been maxed out. These guys are super fit. The next step really is to directly train the brain. That’s where we come in with something that’s scientifically validated,” said Hausler in an interview with The Athletic.
Liverpool’s innovative reliance on neuroscience has surely bore fruits looking back at the key goals the Reds have scored through set pieces in the last few years.
This partnership would surely have other Premier League clubs looking for similar joint ventures to maximise player welfare and output as well as up the ante on the competition on the pitch.
