Liverpool set-piece coach Aaron Briggs has left the club midway through a season in which the Reds have the joint-worst set-play record in Europe’s big five leagues.
Liverpool have conceded 12 set-piece goals 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 understands Liverpool felt intervention in this area was required, and a mutual decision was therefore arrived at with Briggs exiting Anfield.
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It is also understood that the responsibility for set-piece coaching now resides with the current coaching staff.
A club statement read: “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.”
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 Sky Sports.
Thursday 1st January 5:00pm
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Liverpool have the worst set-piece record in Europe – why?
Sky Sports’ Laura Hunter:
No team in Europe’s big five leagues has conceded more set-play goals (12) than Liverpool this season. It has become Slot’s kryptonite.
Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Brentford, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Tottenham and most recently Wolves have all found a way to exploit such weakness this season. Some more than once.
Before hosting Wolves at the weekend, and conceding to a corner, Slot described set-pieces as an “add-on”. He’s probably in a limited pool of head coaches that still views them that way given how the Premier League has evolved in recent years. Plenty would argue they have become fundamental.
No doubt Liverpool’s set-piece balance at both ends of the pitch is way off where it needs to be to compete inside the top four. If net goals via set plays were a measure of league position, Slot’s side would be rock bottom.
So, where are they going wrong?
Only West Ham (10) have conceded more times from corners than Liverpool’s seven this term, the rate of which Slot has called “close to ridiculous”.
Starting at source, Liverpool have faced 85 corners so far this season, which places them around mid-table, and equates to a goal roughly every 12 corner kicks. The Hammers have faced 114, and are conceding on average every 11. For context, league leaders Arsenal have only had to defend 55.
But, oddly, Liverpool are not necessarily conceding via conventional methods. They rarely get beaten to the first contact, which explains their low xG in the graphic below, and points to a problem with the second phase.
