Liverpool set-piece coach Aaron Briggs has left the club with immediate effect following the Premier League champion’s poor performance in that area, it was announced on Tuesday.
Santiago Bueno’s goal for relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday was the 12th time in 18 league matches Liverpool has conceded from a corner, free-kick or throw-in.
No team in Europe’s top five leagues has conceded more this season, with Arne Slot’s men scoring just three goals from set-pieces this term.
It is understood Briggs, a former Manchester City analyst who became an exclusive set-piece coach in September, and Liverpool reached an agreement over his departure from Anfield.
“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,” said a Liverpool statement.
“He leaves with the appreciation and best wishes of everyone at the club.”
ALSO READ: Nottingham Forest lodges complaint over officiating in Man City defeat in Premier League: Report
Only 18th-placed West Ham United (10) has conceded more than Liverpool’s seven goals from corners in this season’s Premier League.
The Reds’ three goals conceded from throw-ins is the joint-most in the league alongside Newcastle United.
According to football statisticians Opta, Liverpool is averaging 2.4 goals scored per 100 set-pieces.
Only Brentford is averaging fewer in the top flight, while Liverpool is averaging 8.2 goals per 100 when it comes to conceding — only Nottingham Forest, in 17th, average more.
It means its set-piece difference of minus nine is Liverpool’s worst at any stage of a season in its Premier League history, with Reds manager Slot saying a week ago, “It’s impossible to be top-four, top-five with our set-piece balance, let alone winning the league…if you look at that you could say how special it is we have as many points as we have.”
Liverpool, however, is currently fourth in the table — 10 points behind leader Arsenal — ahead of its New Year’s Day clash at home to struggler Leeds United.
Published on Dec 30, 2025
Comments are closed.