Liverpool have sacked their set-piece coach after a disastrous start to the Premier League season that has seen the champions repeatedly exposed and punished in dead ball situations.
The Reds have been the worst team in the Premier League when it comes to defending and attacking from corners, free-kicks and throw-ins. No team in Europe’s big five leagues has conceded more non-penalty set-play goals (12) than Liverpool this season. It has become manager Arne Slot’s kryptonite – and they have only scored from three of them.
Liverpool are currently fourth in the table, after they halted a disastrous losing streak by going six games unbeaten, but remain a whopping 10 points behind leaders Arsenal. Club captain Virgil van Dijk described their vulnerability at set-pieces as a “killer”. And now they have acted mid-season by relieving set-piece coach Aaron Briggs of his duties.
(Image: Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC)
In a statement, the club said: “Liverpool FC can confirm Aaron Briggs has departed his role as set-piece coach of the men’s first team.
“Having joined the club in July 2024 – initially in the role of individual development coach – Briggs contributed to our Premier League title success last season as a member of Arne Slot’s backroom staff. He leaves with the appreciation and best wishes of everyone at the club.”
Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Brentford, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Tottenham and most recently Wolves have all found a way to exploit Liverpool’s weaknesses from set-pieces this season. Some more than once.
Speaking after the 2-1 win over Wolves, in which the Reds yet again conceded following a corner, Van Dijk said: “We have defended so many set-pieces very well. But the fact is we’ve conceded too many goals like that and it hurts. We have to improve that.
“It’s about repetition, training, analysing….. it’s something we have to improve. I’d say at least 75% of the time – or even more – it’s not even about the first contact, it’s the second phase that is the killer.”
Speaking before the Wolves game, Slot said: “I know the importance of it, it gets more and more, and that’s why we are so annoyed by our current record. It’s a big frustration we are where we are this season because when we were halfway through last season [when they won the league] we had not conceded one set-piece [goal].
(Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
“It’s impossible to be top-four, top-five with our set-piece balance, let alone winning the league. We are the only team in the top end of the table that has a negative set-piece balance not only are we negative, we are minus-eight [now minus-nine] and still on equal points with fourth.
“But if we are minus-eight – Chelsea is I think plus-eight [actually plus-four] and Arsenal and United are very high [scoring 10 apiece] and if you look at that you could say how special it is we have as many points as we have if you have that set-piece balance.
“We all know why because in open chances created we are number one in the league.”