Liverpool's long-term plan to REPLACE set-piece coach Aaron Briggs | OneFootball

Liverpool on Tuesday took the shock decision to part ways with set-piece coach Aaron Briggs.

Hired originally in summer 2024, the Englishman was given the role of individual development coach following the departure of Vitor Matos.

And during Arne Slot’s first season in charge part of his duties included setting Liverpool up for set-pieces. Indeed Arne Slot gave Briggs credit following one set-piece goal against AC Milan in the Champions League.

But there were signs that Liverpool’s set-piece prowess wasn’t all it could be under Briggs - with Slot pointing out towards the end of the title-winning campaign that he wasn’t happy with the number of set-piece opportunities being converted into goals.

Liverpool's poor set-piece record

Briggs’ role was made official back in September but it hasn’t taken long for the bell to toll for the former Manchester City coach. The Reds’ season has been underwhelming in general and set-pieces are a particular stick to beat the club with.

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Arne Slot’s side have conceded 12 top-flight goals from set-pieces - the highest number of any team in Europe’s top five leagues. To compound those woes the Reds have only managed three goals from set-pieces in the top flight at the other end.

It must be said that their record in Europe - five scored and none conceded - is much better.

However the Anfield club can’t seem to compete with the Premier League set-piece arms race where around 30 percent of all goals are now coming via those methods.

Aaron Briggs pays the price

Briggs has paid the price for his part in the failure - with his duties now being split between other members of the backroom team including Sipke Hulshoff and Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

And in an era where many top clubs have got dedicated set-piece coaches the focus at Anfield will now be on hiring the right candidate.

The job was posted previously - before Briggs was given responsibility for the role - but seemingly no candidate quite measured up. And in a post on his Substack Liverpool reporter David Lynch has confirmed that the search is now underway.

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Liverpool to hire dedicated set-piece coach

“The long-term solution, of course, would be appointing a dedicated and experienced set-piece coach, which the Reds will now look to do in order to bring themselves in line with their Premier League rivals,” the report reveals.

“For now, however, it is hoped that the shock of a mid-season departure and the sharing of Briggs’ duties among the remaining coaching staff can inspire change in an area that had been threatening to derail the season entirely.”

Liverpool need to get up to speed straight way - with set-piece experts Leeds United up next. Now we wait and see whether the Briggs departure brings about a turnaround in fortunes.