Liverpool sack first-team coach following recurring problem

Liverpool have made a major change to their backroom staff in response to their recent results, firing first-team set-piece coach Aaron Briggs. 

The Reds have struggled defensively this season, with set-piece goals being a major source. Following the recent 2–1 victory against Wolves, in which they conceded from a set play, they have not made a move to arrest the situation. 

The Reds have greatly underperformed with set pieces this season, on both ends of the pitch. Excluding penalties, they have already conceded 12 goals from set pieces, the most in the Premier League this season. 

According to Goal, they have been particularly vulnerable defending corners, as only West Ham has shipped in more goals from that source. 

They are conceding 8.2 goals per 100 corner kicks, with only Nottingham Forest posting worse numbers. They also have the second-worst attacking record from set pieces, scoring 2.4 goals from 100 set-piece situations. 

Briggs joined the Reds in 2024 as part of Slot’s backroom staff. He has not managed to improve the Reds' potency and has now been let go, according to multiple reports. 

The straw that broke the camel's back appears to be Santiago Bueno’s header in Liverpool's clash against Wolves. The Reds had a healthy 2–0 lead before the goal, which tainted the occasion. 

After the game, Slot said, "For a long time, until 2-1, it was the way I wanted the game to go," he said, per the BBC. “But then we conceded, and not for the first from a set-piece.

“But the positive thing about all of this is for large parts of the season, when we have conceded a set-piece we have lost the game, but in the last two games we have been able to win. We also understand we have to improve in that part, that's clear and obvious.”