Liverpool set-piece coach Aaron Briggs has left the membership halfway by a season by which the Reds have the joint-worst set-play document in Europe’s large 5 leagues.
Liverpool have conceded 12 set-piece targets within the Premier League this marketing campaign, most lately conceding from a nook of their 2-1 house win over backside facet Wolves.
Sky Sports activities Information understands Liverpool felt intervention on this space was required, and a mutual choice was due to this fact arrived at with Briggs exiting Anfield.
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Liverpool conceded from a nook of their 2-1 house win over Wolves
It is usually understood that the accountability for set-piece teaching now resides with the present teaching workers.
A membership assertion learn: “Liverpool FC can verify Aaron Briggs has departed his function as set-piece coach of the boys’s first group.
“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 simply two days earlier than Liverpool’s first recreation of 2026 as Arne Slot’s facet host Leeds on New 12 months’s Day, stay on Sky Sports activities.
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Liverpool have the worst set-piece document in Europe – why?
Sky Sports activities’ Laura Hunter:
No group in Europe’s large 5 leagues has conceded extra set-play targets (12) than Liverpool this season. It has develop into Slot’s kryptonite.
Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Brentford, Manchester Metropolis, Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Tottenham and most lately Wolves have all discovered a strategy to exploit such weak point this season. Some greater than as soon as.
Earlier than internet hosting Wolves on the weekend, and conceding to a nook, Slot described set-pieces as an “add-on”. He is most likely in a restricted pool of head coaches that also views them that manner given how the Premier League has advanced in recent times. Lots would argue they’ve develop into elementary.
Little doubt Liverpool’s set-piece steadiness at each ends of the pitch is manner off the place it must be to compete inside the highest 4. If web targets by way of set performs had been a measure of league place, Slot’s facet can be all-time low.
So, the place are they going incorrect?
Solely West Ham (10) have conceded extra instances from corners than Liverpool’s seven this time period, the speed of which Slot has referred to as “close to ridiculous”.
Beginning at supply, Liverpool have confronted 85 corners to date this season, which locations them round mid-table, and equates to a objective roughly each 12 nook kicks. The Hammers have confronted 114, and are conceding on common each 11. For context, league leaders Arsenal have solely needed to defend 55.
However, oddly, Liverpool are usually not essentially conceding by way of typical strategies. They hardly ever get crushed to the primary contact, which explains their low xG within the graphic beneath, and factors to an issue with the second part.
