Liverpool Delivers Shocking Blow to Backroom Staff in Brutal Overhaul
Liverpool have announced the exit of set-piece specialist Aaron Briggs as they attempt to tackle a major weakness that has troubled head coach Arne Slot.
When defending his squad's disappointing displays this campaign, Slot has consistently highlighted his team's deficiencies regarding dead-ball situations. No other Premier League club has allowed more set-piece goals this term (12), while the Merseysiders rank second for goals shipped from corner kicks (seven).
"It's unthinkable to finish in the top-four or top-five with our current set-piece record, never mind claiming the title," Slot declared angrily. "We stand alone among the elite teams with such a poor set-piece differential - not just negative, but minus-eight."
The Reds have implemented decisive measures to tackle these issues, announcing that Briggs has left his position as set-piece specialist.
Briggs won't receive an immediate replacement, with Slot's remaining coaching staff set to divide his duties while management deliberates their next course of action.
Briggs initially arrived at Anfield in July 2024 as an individual development specialist, though he dedicated considerable time to set-piece work before officially receiving the set-piece coach designation in September 2025.
However, mounting pressure reached breaking point following a string of poor results that observers largely blamed on set-piece inadequacies.
2025–26 Premier League Set-Piece Table
Team | Set-Piece Goals For / Against | Set-Piece Goal Difference |
|---|---|---|
Tottenham | 9 / 2 | +7 |
Arsenal | 10 / 4 | +6 |
Leeds | 12 / 8 | +4 |
Chelsea | 11 / 7 | +4 |
Sunderland | 7 / 3 | +4 |
Man Utd | 11 / 8 | +3 |
Aston Villa | 9 / 7 | +2 |
Brighton | 6 / 4 | +2 |
Newcastle | 8 / 7 | +1 |
Everton | 5 / 4 | +1 |
Brentford | 3 / 2 | +1 |
Fulham | 6 / 6 | 0 |
Man City | 6 / 6 | 0 |
Wolves | 2 / 4 | -2 |
Crystal Palace | 7 / 10 | -3 |
Burnley | 4 / 7 | -3 |
West Ham | 6 / 11 | -5 |
Bournemouth | 6 / 12 | -6 |
Nottingham Forest | 4 / 11 | -7 |
Liverpool | 3 / 12 | -9 |
Statistics courtesy of WhoScored. Accurate as of Dec. 30, 2025.
External Criticism Becomes Unbearable for Liverpool
Defender Virgil van Dijk recently maintained that Liverpool's set-piece defending wasn't as poor as critics claimed, but accepted the damning statistics while admitting "additional practice and study" was required.
Former player John Aldridge, just hours before Briggs's exit became official, urged the coach to "examine himself" in his Liverpool ECHO piece.
Converting from set-piece opportunities has proven equally problematic for Liverpool—only Brentford manages fewer than the Reds' rate of 2.4 goals per 100 scenarios—with Briggs facing increased scrutiny following several public comments from Slot.
Despite their set-piece struggles, Liverpool reach the season's halfway mark in fourth place, holding a three-point cushion over their pursuers while trailing table-toppers Arsenal by 10 points.