Arne Slot has defended former Liverpool set-piece coach Aaron Briggs despite a major upturn in performance since the 38-year-old was sacked in December.
Liverpool parted ways with Briggs on December 30 after conceding 13 goals from set-pieces in 26 games, while only scoring eight of their own.
Since then their record has drastically improved, with only two set-piece goals conceded and eight scored in 12 games with a new coaching setup.
But when asked on Thursday what had changed and who was now leading set-piece planning, Slot insisted it would be “very unfair” to pin the blame solely on Briggs.
“I’m happy that you asked that question because it would be very unfair to Aaron, who was only partly responsible for that, because in the end I’m responsible for everything,” he told reporters.
“In the end it’s always my responsibility. But we were, in that period of time, so, so, so unlucky.
“We all knew that it couldn’t go on like that, because we hardly gave away a chance in set-pieces but every goal went in, and we created multiple opportunities to score and the ball didn’t go in.
Liverpool FC 2025/26 Set-Piece Statistics
Period Games Set-Pieces Conceded Set-Pieces Scored
With Briggs 26 13 8
Post-Briggs 12 2 8
* Data reflects set-piece performance across the 2025/26 season.
“So that things go back to normal now is something which we expected.
“Aaron had an analyst and the two of them were mainly responsible for it – in the end I’m responsible, but they did the work. That hasn’t changed.
“So Lewis [Mahoney, first-team set-piece analyst] does the main work and then we have a meeting together and we look at the last details.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 31, 2026: Liverpool first-team set-piece analyst Lewis Mahoney during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“But in general we didn’t change that much, we maybe made one or two slight changes but we didn’t change much.
“What changed is things went back to normal, because in the Champions League, when Aaron was with us, we were already very good – I think we were No. 1 in set-pieces.
“I would mainly say things went back to normal and we’ve adjusted one or two small things.”
Will Liverpool hire a new set-piece coach?
BURNLEY, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 14, 2025: Liverpool substitute Federico Chiesa from first team individual development coach Aaron Briggs receiving final instructions before coming on during the FA Premier League match between Burnley FC and Liverpool FC at Turf Moor. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Slot was then asked if Liverpool were planning to appoint a new specialist set-piece coach or continue with a collegiate approach which sees him work with Mahoney and assistants Sipke Hulshoff and Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
The head coach stressed that there were no immediate plans to hire but admitted the club were “always looking” as is the case with players.
“At the moment we’re happy with the ways things are,” he said in his pre-Nottingham Forest press conference.
“But, as it is with players, we’re always looking if we can strengthen either the staff or the squad.
“We always keep our eyes open, but at this moment I don’t expect any change today or tomorrow.”