Post by : Bianca
Haleem
Liverpool Football Club has officially announced the immediate exit of Aaron Briggs, their set-piece coach, due to persistent issues in both defending and scoring from set-pieces this season.
Briggs joined the club in July 2024 as a development coach before taking on the role of exclusive set-piece coach in September, contributing to last season’s Premier League triumph under manager Arne Slot. However, this campaign has seen Liverpool falter in this area.
In the current Premier League season, Liverpool has allowed 12 set-piece goals—an alarming figure that tops Europe’s elite leagues. The recent goal by Wolves’ Santiago Bueno highlighted this weakness.
Defensively, Liverpool ranks second, only behind West Ham, in terms of goals conceded from corners, with seven. Moreover, they share the dubious record for the most goals allowed from throw-ins, totaling three alongside Newcastle.
On the attack, Liverpool has netted merely three goals from set-pieces this season. Opta statistics reveal the club averages just 2.4 goals per 100 set-piece opportunities, the second-lowest record in the Premier League, trailing only Brentford.
Conversely, Liverpool yields an average of 8.2 goals per 100 set-pieces, reflecting one of the worst defensive standings in the league, second only to Nottingham Forest.
Liverpool’s set-piece goal difference of minus nine is unprecedented in the club’s Premier League history for this part of the season. Manager Arne Slot previously emphasized the severity of the situation, noting: “It is impossible to place in the top four, let alone win the league, with such a set-piece balance.”
Despite these hurdles, Liverpool currently holds the fourth position in the Premier League, trailing leaders Arsenal by 10 points, as they prepare for their New Year’s Day fixture against Leeds United.
The club has expressed gratitude for Briggs' efforts and wished him success in his future pursuits.
English
