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Liverpool’s set-piece coach Aaron Briggs has left the club in the middle of a season in which the Reds have the worst set-piece record in Europe’s big five leagues.
Liverpool have conceded 12 goals from set pieces in the Premier League this campaign, most recently conceding from a corner in their 2-1 home win over bottom side Wolves.
Sky Sports news It appears that Liverpool felt that intervention in this area was necessary and so a mutual decision was made with Briggs’ exit from Anfield.
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Liverpool conceded from a corner in their 2-1 home win against Wolves.
It is also understood that responsibility for coaching on set pieces now rests with the current coaching staff.
A club statement read: “Liverpool FC can confirm that Aaron Briggs has stepped down from his role as 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 success in the Premier League last season as a member of Arne Slot’s staff.”
Briggs’ departure comes just two days before Liverpool’s first game of 2026 as Arne Slot’s side host Leeds on New Year’s Day, live on Aerial sports.
Thursday January 1st 5:00 p.m.
Kick-off at 5:30 p.m.
Liverpool have the worst record in Europe – why?
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Laura Hunter from Sky Sports:
No team in Europe’s five major leagues has conceded more set-piece goals (12) than Liverpool this season. It became Slot’s kryptonite.
Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Brentford, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Tottenham and most recently Wolves have all found ways to exploit such weakness this season. Some more than once.
Before hosting Wolves this weekend and conceding a corner, Slot described set pieces as a “complement”. He is probably one of a limited group of head coaches who still see them that way given how the Premier League has evolved in recent years. Many would say they have become fundamental.
There is no doubt that Liverpool’s balance at both ends of the pitch is a far cry from where it needs to be to compete for a top four finish. If net goals via set plays were a measure of league position, Slot’s team would be at rock bottom.
So where are they going wrong?
Only West Ham (10) have conceded more times from corners than Liverpool have conceded seven this season, a rate Slot described as “almost ridiculous”.
From the source, Liverpool have faced 85 corners so far this season, which puts them in the middle of the table and equates to around a goal every 12 corners. The Hammers have faced 114 and conceded on average every 11. For context, league leaders Arsenal have only had to defend 55.
But curiously, Liverpool don’t necessarily concede via conventional methods. They are rarely beaten on first contact, which explains their low xG in the graph below, and points to a problem with the second phase.
