Liverpool make decision over future of key member of Arne Slot’s backroom staff amid struggles from set-pieces

Liverpool‘s set-piece coach has paid the price for overseeing the team conceding a league-high 12 goals from dead-ball situations this season.

Aaron Briggs has left his position as part of Arne Slot’s backroom team with immediate effect after the two parties reached a mutual decision to part ways.

The Premier League champions’ title defence has fallen apart largely in part to being vulnerable at defending corners and free-kicks while being poor at scoring from such situations at the other end.

They have conceded 12 goals in the league from set pieces, which is matched by Bournemouth as a league-high. At the other end, only bottom club Wolves have scored fewer than Liverpool’s three this season.

Their next opponents, Leeds, by way of comparison, have scored 12 dead-ball goals while Brentford, who have former set-piece coach Keith Andrews in charge, have let in just two.

Briggs joined the club in summer 2024 on the same week as John Heitinga, who has also now left Anfield.

The ex-Manchester City and Wolfsburg man leaves with the gratitude of many at the club as he was crucial in helping Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff settle into English life.

Briggs originally was an elite development coach, helping bridge the gap from the academy to the first team in a similar position to now-Swansea boss Vitor Matos.

But he took on set-piece responsibilities and that role became full-time this season after originally advertising for the job on LinkedIn.