Liverpool’s set-piece coach Aaron Briggs has paid the price for the team’s woeful performance in that area this season with his immediate departure from the club.
Santiago Bueno’s goal for Wolves on Saturday was the 12th time in 18 matches Arne Slot’s side had conceded from a corner, free-kick or throw-in, no team in Europe’s top five leagues has conceded more.
Liverpool have not conceded more than 15 in an entire season since the 2015-16 campaign. Conversely, they have scored just three from set-pieces.
Therefore, it is understood an intervention was required with both the club and Briggs, a former Manchester City analyst who took over set-piece duties exclusively in September, reaching an agreement over his exit.
But Slot and his coaching staff, who will now take on the responsibility for set-pieces, accept that the decision to part ways will not be a “silver bullet” which will immediately solve the issues.
“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 statement from Liverpool.
“He leaves with the appreciation and best wishes of everyone at the club.”
The statistics relating to Liverpool’s set-piece performance are well below what would normally be expected.
Only 18th-placed West Ham (10) have conceded more than Liverpool’s seven from corners. Their three goals conceded from throw-ins is the joint-most in the league alongside Newcastle.
According to Opta, Liverpool are averaging 2.4 goals scored per 100 set-pieces. Only Brentford are averaging fewer in the top flight, while Liverpool are averaging 8.2 goals per 100 when it comes to conceding – only Nottingham Forest, in 17th, average more.
It means their set-piece balance of minus nine is Liverpool’s worst at any stage of a season in their Premier League history and in their last two matches against Tottenham and Wolves they were comfortable at 2-0 before conceding set-pieces, which hugely changed the momentum and left Slot’s side hanging on.
A week ago Slot said of that one statistic: “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.”