Liverpool Part Ways with Set-Piece Coach Aaron Briggs Amid Poor Record

Liverpool FC has parted ways with set-piece coach Aaron Briggs as head coach Arne Slot seeks to address the team's dismal performance in set-piece situations during the 2025-26 Premier League season.[1]

Aaron Briggs joined Liverpool in July 2024 as a first-team individual development coach under Slot, before being promoted to the specialist role of set-piece coach in September 2025.[1][3] Despite his contributions to the club's Premier League title win in the 2024-25 season, where Liverpool conceded nine set-piece goals (22% of their total), the Reds have struggled significantly this term.[1][2]

This season, Liverpool have conceded 12 goals from set-pieces—joint-most in the Premier League alongside Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest—and scored only three from such situations.[1] Slot has frequently highlighted the team's "negative set-piece balance," with recent examples including a nervy 2-1 win over Wolves where Santiago Bueno scored from a corner.[1]

Briggs' departure, though not seen as a complete fix, reflects the club's urgency to improve both defensively and offensively in dead-ball scenarios.[1] Responsibility for set pieces will now shift to Slot and his remaining coaching staff, with Briggs still highly regarded for past achievements.[1]

Prior to Liverpool, Briggs built experience at Manchester City (nine years, rising to senior first-team analyst), VfL Wolfsburg (assistant coach), and early roles at Blackpool and Preston North End after graduating from the University of Central Lancashire.[3] Last summer, Liverpool overhauled their backroom team, including appointing Lewis Mahoney as set-piece analyst from Southampton, but results have not improved as hoped.[2]

The move comes amid frustrations aired by Slot and possibly captain Virgil van Dijk over persistent vulnerabilities, prompting this key staff change to bolster Liverpool's title defense.[1]

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