Major Liverpool exit sealed as Arne Slot bemoans series of unfortunate events at Anfield
Liverpool have ended first team set-piece coach Aaron Briggs’ 18-month stay at the club following Saturday’s win over Wolves.
Ryan Gravenberch and Florian Wirtz scored as Liverpool beat Wolves 2-1 at Anfield, but the visitors’ goal highlighted a recurring issue.
Santiago Bueno poked home from a corner after the break – the 12th time this season that the Reds have conceded from a set-piece in the Premier League, excluding penalties.
Arne Slot is still under pressure at Liverpool, but form has improved in recent weeks, with his side now having won their last four games across all competitions.
Liverpool are expected to finish in the top four this season, with the Dutchman’s job potentially relying on qualification to the Champions League.
Liverpool take action on set-piece trouble
Liverpool‘s struggles from set-pieces are, by no means, a secret, and Wolves looked to take full advantage on Saturday.
Rob Edwards‘ side flooded the box for their corners and got the reward for their set-up in the second half.
Andre swung the delivery into the box with enough pace to leave Alisson rooted to his line, while the defenders in front of him kept a packed line on the edge of the six-yard box.
But there was little preventing Tolu Arokodare from rising above Ibrahima Konate and heading towards goal, with Bueno left entirely unchallenged to poke home the rebound.
On Tuesday, it was confirmed that Liverpool have parted ways with set-piece coach Briggs, with Slot‘s other staff to take over his responsibilities for the time being.
As well as conceding 12 from set-pieces, the Reds have only scored three – with one of those being Dominik Szoboszlai‘s stunning free-kick against Arsenal.
Corners, free-kicks and long throw-ins have been a constant topic of discussion this season, with Premier League leaders Arsenal utilising them massively.
It is a margin that Slot’s side have fallen far behind in, and it is not a surprise to see news of Briggs’ departure arrive in the weeks leading up to Liverpool’s trip to the Emirates Stadium.
What has Arne Slot said about Liverpool’s set-piece trouble?
Slot has bemoaned his side’s inability to deal with set-piece situations this season, and he was keen to talk about the problem again on Saturday.
“Unfortunately we’re maybe the only team that hardly ever scores from a set-piece and, even worse, we constantly concede,” he said.
“But then, I think I said two, three or four weeks ago, we have to make sure that when things go against us – it could be a set-piece, it could be other things – we still need to find a way to win.
“In the last two games we conceded from a set-piece but we were able to win and that hasn’t happened many times this season. That’s progress for me, but it’s obvious there are more things for us to improve and this is definitely one of them.”
Set-piece coaches are in high demand in the Premier League nowadays, and it remains to be seen how quickly Liverpool will attempt to replace Briggs.