Liverpool Football Club have taken decisive action to address a glaring weakness in their squad, sacking set-piece coach Aaron Briggs with immediate effect. The move comes after repeated public expressions of frustration from both team captain Virgil van Dijk and manager Arne Slot regarding the side's poor performance from corners and free-kicks.
Mid-Season Departure After Title Success
The club confirmed the departure in an official statement on Monday, 30th December 2025. Briggs, who initially joined the Reds in July 2024 as an individual development coach, was part of the backroom staff that helped deliver the Premier League title last season. Despite that success, the current campaign has been marred by a significant defensive flaw.
"Liverpool FC can confirm Aaron Briggs has departed his role as set-piece coach of the men’s first team," the statement read. It thanked him for his contribution and wished him well for the future, but the mid-season timing underscores the urgency the club attaches to solving the problem.
Captain and Manager Voice Public Concerns
The decision follows pointed comments from key figures at Anfield. Speaking after a narrow 2-1 victory over Wolves, captain Virgil van Dijk did not hold back in his assessment. "We have defended so many set-pieces very well," said Van Dijk. "But the fact is we've conceded too many goals like that and it hurts. We have to improve that."
He pinpointed a recurring issue, noting that "at least 75 per cent of the time - or even more - it's not even about the first contact, it's the second phase that is the killer." This analysis highlights a systemic failure in organisation and reaction after the initial ball is dealt with.
Manager Arne Slot had also laid bare the statistics, revealing the scale of the crisis. "It's impossible to be top-four, top-five with our set-piece balance, let alone winning the league," Slot stated bluntly. He revealed that Liverpool are "the only team in the top end of the table that has a negative set-piece balance" and are currently languishing at "minus-eight."
A Glaring Weakness Threatening Top-Four Hopes
Slot contrasted Liverpool's record with their rivals, noting that Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United have all scored heavily from set-pieces this season. "If you look at that you could say how special it is we have as many points as we have," he admitted, crediting the team's open-play prowess for keeping them in contention.
The Dutch manager recalled that halfway through their title-winning season, Liverpool had not conceded a single goal from a set-piece. The dramatic decline in this fundamental area has become a major point of contention, prompting the board to act before the January transfer window.
The dismissal of Briggs represents a clear attempt to reset and find a solution to a problem that both the dressing room leader and the head coach have identified as critical to their season's ambitions. With Champions League qualification on the line, Liverpool's hierarchy have decided they can no longer wait for an improvement.
