In a surprising move reflecting the club's desire for immediate course correction, Liverpool, the reigning Premier League champions, have decided to terminate the contract of set-piece coach Aaron Briggs . This decision comes as a result of the team's evident defensive struggles this season in dealing with corner kicks and free kicks, which have cost the Reds valuable points in their title defense.
The straw that broke the camel's back
Uruguayan Santiago Bueno's goal for relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers last Saturday proved to be the final straw. This goal brought Liverpool's tally of goals conceded from set pieces (corners, free kicks, or throw-ins) to 12 in just 18 Premier League matches – a dismal record for a team vying for the top spot.
According to official data, no team in Europe's top five leagues has conceded more goals from set pieces than Liverpool this season. However, the team's attacking impotence in this area is evident, with Arne Slot's men scoring only three goals from set pieces so far.
The importance of set pieces in modern football
In modern football, set pieces are considered one of the most important "marginal advantages" upon which top teams rely to win tight matches. Analysts point out that failure in this area not only means conceding goals but also losing control of the game and suffering a drop in morale. For Liverpool, the negative goal difference from set pieces (-9) is the worst in the club's history at any stage of the season, prompting urgent administrative and technical intervention.
Details of the departure and club statements
Sources have confirmed that Briggs, the former Manchester City pundit who took over as set-piece coach last September, has reached an amicable agreement with Liverpool for his immediate departure. The club said in an official statement: "Having joined the club in July 2014, initially as an individual development coach, Briggs contributed to our Premier League title win last season as part of Arne Slott's coaching staff. He leaves with the appreciation and best wishes of everyone at the club.".
Worrying figures put Slot under pressure
These statistics put manager Arne Slott under immense pressure, especially given his previous statement: "It's impossible to finish in the top four or five with this level of set-piece performance, let alone win the league." Opta statistics indicate that Liverpool concede an average of 8.2 goals per 100 set-pieces, the second-worst rate in the league after Nottingham Forest.
It is worth noting that Liverpool currently occupies fourth place, a full ten points behind the leader Arsenal, and is preparing to face struggling Leeds United on Thursday, the first day of the new year, in a match that cannot be decided if the team wants to remain in the competition.
