Liverpool’s set-piece coach Aaron Briggs has left the club midway through the season, with the Reds having the worst set-piece record in Europe’s top five leagues.
Liverpool have conceded 12 set-piece goals in the Premier League this season, most recently from a corner in their 2-1 home win over bottom-placed Wolves.
Sky Sports News understands that the mutual decision for Briggs to leave Anfield was reached as Liverpool felt they needed to intervene in this area.
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Liverpool beat Wolves 2-1 at home, conceding a goal from a corner kick.
It is also understood that responsibility for coaching set pieces lies with the current coaching staff.
“Liverpool FC can confirm that Aaron Briggs has resigned from his role as set-piece coach for the men’s first team,” the club said in a statement.
“Briggs joined the club in July 2024, initially in the role of individual development coach, but was part of Arne Slott’s backroom staff, helping us win last season’s Premier League title.”
Briggs’ departure comes just two days before Liverpool’s first match of 2026, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports on New Year’s Day as they host Arne Slott’s side.
Thursday, January 1st 5pm
5:30pm kickoff
Liverpool have the worst set-piece record in Europe – why?
Laura Hunter on Sky Sports:
No team in Europe’s top five leagues has conceded more set-piece goals (12) this season than Liverpool. It has become the kryptonite of slots.
Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Brentford, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Tottenham and most recently Wolves have all found ways to exploit such weaknesses this season. Some more than once.
Before conceding a goal at home to Wolves at the weekend, Slott described the set-piece as an “add-on”. Given the evolution of the Premier League in recent years, he is probably among the few head coaches who still think that way. Many would argue that they have become fundamental.
There is no doubt that Liverpool’s set-piece balance at both ends of the pitch is well below the level required to compete within the top four. If net goals from set pieces were a measure of league standings, teams in the slot would be at the bottom.
So where do they go wrong?
Only West Ham (10) have conceded more goals from corner kicks than Liverpool’s seven this term, a percentage Slott described as “ridiculous”.
Starting from the source, Liverpool have faced 85 corners so far this season, which puts them in the middle of the table and equates to a goal every 12 corners. The Hammers have played 114 games so far, conceding an average of every 11 games. By comparison, league leaders Arsenal only had to defend 55 games.
But, strangely enough, Liverpool don’t necessarily concede in the traditional way. We rarely lose on first contact. This explains the low xG in the image below and indicates that there is a problem with the second phase.
