Arne Slot out of excuses after 'KILLER' Van Dijk comment

Liverpool confirmed on Tuesday December 30 that Aaron Briggs would be leaving the club.

For those unfamiliar with Briggs he was operating in the role of set-piece coach. Having joined the club initially back in summer 2024 - as an individual development coach - Briggs played his part in the Premier League title win under Arne Slot last season.

The decision was then made to promote Briggs to his set-piece role after a search was put out for candidates on platforms such as LinkedIn.

But it’s not gone well for the defending Premier League champions nor for Briggs this season.

Liverpool's poor set-piece record

Liverpool’s goal difference from set-pieces in the top flight this season stands at minus 9 - with 12 goals conceded and only three scored. That is the worst record in any of Europe’s top five leagues.

It must be said that their record from set-pieces in the Champions League is much better - standing at five goals scored and none conceded in six matches.

And last season Slot credited Briggs with coming up with the solution for at least one goal scored in Europe.

Set-pieces have become a Premier League arms race however with most top clubs boasting a specialist coach.

Around 30 percent of goals in the top flight have been scored via set-pieces this season and it’s clear Liverpool cannot keep up.

Aaron Briggs leaves Liverpool

Responsibility for set-pieces will now fall onto Arne Slot’s other coaching staff including Sipke Hulshoff and Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

It remains to be seen whether this decision pays off for the Reds - especially in the short term where set-piece experts Leeds United lie in wait.

But with the announcement of Briggs’ departure it’s clear that the former Manchester City and Wolfsburg coach is carrying the can for the Reds’ adverse position.

The Anfield side have been blighted by individual errors from set-pieces this season. Their poor record from corners in particular is not down to simply one man.

Indeed there was plenty of evidence that the Reds were suffering from a set-piece syndrome last season - with Slot commenting that Liverpool weren't scoring enough.

Van Dijk's 'killer' comment

Captain Virgil van Dijk as well as Slot have pointed out their frustrations with set-pieces this season - with the skipper describing the team’s record as a “killer”.

The pressure now comes onto the other coaching staff who will be expected to make an immediate improvement to the team’s set-piece record.

Not to mention the players - who may well have been able to point to Briggs’ setup as the reason behind their poor defending inside their own box.

It’s time for the players - and for Slot and his staff to stand up and take responsibility.

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