Liverpool have sacked set-piece coach Aaron Briggs amid their ongoing struggles with dead-ball situations this term. Excluding penalties, the Reds have scored just three Premier League goals from such instances this term, with only bottom-of-the-division Wolves on fewer (two).
What's more, Arne Slot has seen his team concede 12 goals from set-pieces. This is the joint most in the league, level with Bournemouth. In comparison, league leaders Arsenal have conceded just four, while Brentford have the best defensive record in that sense, having let in only two.
In the midst of this very obvious issue, Liverpool have taken action by letting senior first-team coach Briggs go. Journalist Paul Joyce has also revealed that there is no current plan to replace him, but instead, 'responsibility for set pieces will fall across the remaining coaching staff.'
|Fewest Premier League Set-Piece Goals Scored (Excluding Penalties)|
|Rank|Team|Goals Scored|
|20|Wolves|2|
|19|Liverpool|3|
|19=|Brentford|3|
|18|Burnley|4|
|18=|Nottingham Forest|4|
|---|
Liverpool Statement On Sacking Aaron Briggs
Liverpool coach Aaron Briggs looks on during a warm up
The club confirmed the news with an official statement, which thanked Briggs for his time at Anfield, in which Liverpool won the league. In full, it 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. He leaves with the appreciation and best wishes of everyone at the club."
While the statement remains formal and professional, recent comments in the media by manager Slot and club captain Virgil van Dijk may reveal a little more insight into the decision to let Briggs go.
Van Dijk Made Clear He Wasn't Happy With Set-Pieces
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk puts his hand on his head.
Premier League - Liverpool v Nottingham Forest - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - November 22, 2025 Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk reacts REUTERS/Phil Noble
With the club's record at set-pieces so flawed of late – with a differential of -9 this season – it's no shock to have heard some grumblings from players in the press. Van Dijk expressed some frustration just last Saturday after Liverpool won 2-1, but Santiago Bueno scored for Wolves from a corner.
"There have been plenty of games when we have defended them very well. But the fact is we've conceded too many set-piece goals and we don't score enough.
"It's something we have to improve. I would say at least 75 per cent of the time or even more, it's not even about the first contact. It's the second phase that is the killer.
"Is it a mental thing? I hope not. If that's in your head then it's an issue. Personally, it's not in my head."
He added: "It's not been good enough. We all realise that. We have spoken about it. We need to turn it around. That's why we work on it almost every training session."
Most Premier League Set-Piece Goals Conceded
Rank
1
1=
3
3=
5
Slot Also Voiced Concerns Over Set-Pieces
Arne Slot
Liverpool manager Slot has also voiced his concerns over the subject, claiming that everyone at the club was 'annoyed' by their poor record. Speaking ahead of the Wolves game, he said:
"I know the importance of it, it gets more and more, and that's why we are so annoyed by our current record. It's a big frustration we are where we are this season because when we were halfway through last season [when they won the league] we had not conceded one set-piece [goal].
"It's impossible to be top-four, top-five with our set-piece balance, let alone winning the league. We are the only team in the top end of the table that has a negative set-piece balance."
Following the 2-1 win, in which another goal from a set-piece was conceded, he added: "Unfortunately, we're maybe the only team that hardly ever scores from a set-piece and, even worse, we constantly concede."
Stats via WhoScored - correct as of 30/12/25