There has been a marked improvement in Liverpool’s set-piece record since Aaron Briggs left Liverpool – the numbers don’t lie.

Football is the game we love because of its unpredictability. It is a game of constant battles, each with their own small prizes or consequences.

We try to control the chaos with tactics, formations and patterns of play. Ultimately, though, association football comes down to moments.

In that split second before a striker takes his shot, almost all the infinite variables at play suddenly cease and there are two outcomes: goal or no goal.

Coaches spend lifetimes trying to understand the intricacies of the game and make sense of it all, so when set-pieces provide a brief moment of calm within the storm, they are taken full advantage of.

We can’t quite define a set-piece as a closed skill, even a penalty has the variable of the goalkeeper’s actions. However, compared to the rest of a match, it is a tranquil haven for coaches by contrast.

Here, they can better control the outcome of the play. These are moments that have become increasingly important in the Premier League, particularly this season.

Among the many reasons Liverpool fell behind this season was their extremely poor record at set-pieces, attacking and defending.

In a year when Arsenal could effectively win the league because of their incredible record from corners, the Reds have struggled massively.

From the start of the season to January 1, Liverpool scored from eight set-pieces and conceded 13.

However, 2026 has seen them begin to turn their record around, having already scored eight and conceded only two since the New Year.

So what has changed?

The numbers can’t be a coincidence since Aaron Briggs’ exit

The notable change has been the departure of set-piece coach Aaron Briggs.

While it is impossible to see behind closed doors and know who inputs which ideas, it does appear that Briggs just wasn’t up to Liverpool’s required standards.

But was that his fault? He wasn’t even hired as a set-piece coach.

When Briggs arrived at the club in 2024, he joined as first team individual development coach. However, in the absence of a specific coach to cover set-pieces, he took charge of the area last season and was made permanently responsible for them last summer.

That was until the club removed him from his post at the end of 2025, with Liverpool having conceded 12 goals from set-pieces in the Premier League – the joint-most alongside Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest at that point.

Just a few days before Briggs’ exit, Slot said: “I know the importance of it, it gets more and more, and that’s why we are so annoyed by our current record.

“It’s a big frustration we are where we are this season because when we were halfway through last season, we had not conceded one set-piece [goal].

“It’s impossible to be top-four, top-five with our set-piece balance, let alone winning the league.”

With Briggs out the door, Liverpool’s staff have now taken collective responsibility for set-plays, with first team set-piece analyst Lewis Mahoney, who joined from Southampton in September, occupying Briggs’ seat on the bench.

Defending set-plays

Before Briggs left, Liverpool were conceding at a rate of 8.2 goals per 100 set-pieces, with only Forest averaging more. Nobody in Europe’s top five leagues had conceded more.

Liverpool had faced 85 corners, equating to a goal conceded from approximately every 12 corners. West Ham had faced 114 and were conceding on average once in every 11 set-plays.

A reason they have been able to turn their record around is the nature of the goals they were conceding.

Most Goals Conceded from Corners (PL Era Only)
Rank Season Games Goals Conceded 1 2015/16 38 10 2 1992/93 42 9 3 2011/12 38 8 4 2025/26 up to Dec 31 18 7 =5 1996/97 38 7 =5 2016/17 38 7 =5 2023/24 38 7 8 1993/94 42 7

*Data from Opta

These weren’t corners or free-kicks that were being directed into the net with the first contact. In fact, when Briggs left, Liverpool had just the third-lowest xG tally (2.46) from shots/headers conceded after a corner in the league.

This indicates that Liverpool’s ability to win the first ball through Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate was not the issue.

Instead, it was the flick-ons, knock-downs and second-phase efforts that were usually posing the problems. This was a matter of anticipation and the side’s tactical set-up.

A good example came when Crystal Palace opened the scoring at Selhurst Park in September. In the first image you can see goalscorer Isamaila Sarr, circled in white, beginning his run as the corner is taken.

The image below shows Sarr completely unmarked at the moment Ryan Gravenberch wins his header but inadvertently knocks the ball back into the six-yard box.

The ball then falls for Sarr who can’t miss from close range. It wasn’t the only set-piece the Reds conceded that day either.

After Federico Chiesa had equalised, Eddie Nketiah won it late on for Palace, finishing off the second phase of a long throw-in.

On this occasion, Palace won four consecutive aerial duels, but that wasn’t even what led to the goal. It was the lax marking from Jeremie Frimpong that gave Nketiah space to finish.

If this happens once, it’s an individual mistake. When Liverpool concede more than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues, it is a trend of players not knowing their individual jobs or being positioned in the wrong places.

Liverpool’s turnaround post-Briggs is down to a mixture of reasons, chiefly concentration and better positioning.

Attacking set-pieces

What laid Liverpool’s set-piece deficiencies even more bare was the fact they were poor at both ends.

Liverpool were averaging 2.4 goals scored per 100 set-pieces in the league. Only Brentford had a worse average, but the contrast from 2025 to 2026 has been stark.

The Reds have scored from eight set-plays since January 1, the same number they managed in the entirety of the season’s first four-and-a-half months.

In fact, Slot’s side have scored from three corners in their last four league games. Before that, they had scored one in 22 league matches.

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“Even though last season they (set-pieces) were very important, it has now gone through the roof in terms of importance.”

Notable for its importance was Van Dijk’s header at the Stadium of Light to beat Sunderland 1-0.

The captain flicked in from inside a crowded six-yard area following Mo Salah‘s inswinging corner – the fact it was an inswinger is key.

If you’ve watched Arsenal this season, you will know this has been their go-to move that has been so effective, and it seems to be an approach Liverpool are now adopting.

For Van Dijk’s goal, Liverpool had four men inside the six-yard box, with two more just outside, forcing Sunderland to push back.

The hosts ended up with nine of their own players packed in a tight area, which contributed to goalkeeper Robin Roefs not being able to come and clear.

Chaos ensued and Van Dijk’s aerial presence won the day thanks to an excellent inswinging delivery from Salah.

According to Sky Sports, prior to last month’s defeat at Bournemouth, Liverpool had the lowest percentage of inswinging deliveries in the Premier League, at 49.4 percent, well below the average of roughly 70 percent.

In the four league matches since, their percentage has risen to 82.5 percent, with 28 of their 34 corners against Bournemouth, Newcastle, Man City and Sunderland having been inswingers.

The new approach is working and having the ability to score from dead balls should be a huge advantage for Liverpool when they aren’t at their best in the latter stages of the season.

Slot said: “People ask me multiple times about the difference in our Premier League and Champions League performances now and the most simple answer is set-pieces, because in the Champions League we are top in set pieces and in the Premier League we are completely bottom.

“And that reflects in the league table as well. The current Premier League is so much more about set pieces than it was last year.

“Even though last season it was very important, but it has now gone through the roof in terms of importance.

“It is actually impossible to win the league with a balance like ours, you need to have a plus five to even have a chance, even if you are playing well, to win the league.”

Despite that balance no longer looking quite so abysmal, Liverpool won’t be able to win the league this season.

As for the Champions League, however, it seems like fate that the destination of Ol’ Big Ears should be decided by a dead-ball routine at the end of a campaign defined by set-pieces.

It may not be enjoyable to watch, but if Liverpool win in Budapest thanks to a corner, they will look back at the decision to relieve Briggs of his duties as a win for management; an example of decisive action that has resulted in material benefits.

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Alexis Mac Allister‘s father and agent has responded to Monday’s report that Man United are interested in signing the Liverpool midfielder.

Alexis Mac Allister’s father responds to Man United transfer link

When the Mirror reported that Man United are “weighing up a shock raid” for Mac Allister, it is fair to say we were sceptical given no player has moved directly between the clubs for 61 years.

Mac Allister’s father, Carlos, has now responded, telling WinWin: “Alexis is thinking about Liverpool at the moment.

“We are waiting for an offer to renew his contract. We will see what the club’s plan is.”

Reporter Fabrizio Romano also watered down the rumours of a Man United move, saying on YouTube that “as things stand, there is nothing advanced or concrete with Mac Allister.”

With the 27-year-old’s contract expiring in 2028, his father and agent was asked if he would consider moving anywhere outside of Spain if he leaves in two years.

Mac Allister Sr said: “We’ll wait and see what happens with the renewal. That’s all.”

Today’s Liverpool FC News

• In response to Hungary coach Marco Rossi saying Dominik Szoboszlai‘s “dream” is to play for Real Madrid, the No. 8’s agent told NB1 HU that he is not “looking outside or elsewhere”

• Jayden Danns is on his way back from injury, with Liverpool U21s boss Rob Page telling The Redmen TV that “he’s out on the grass and he’s getting better and better, stronger and stronger every day”

• January signing Mor Talla Ndiaye is also “back on the grass” and edging closer to the pitch following a minor issue found in his medical, Page added

More from This Is Anfield

It has been five years since Liverpool had the defensive injury crisis to end all injury crises, triggering to them to sign Ozan Kabak for £1 million. Henry Jackson looks back at the Turk’s brief but eventful time at Anfield:

“There were high hopes for the then 20-year-old Kabak, with the Turk a highly-rated young defender who was recommended to Klopp by his good friend David Wagner.

“Things didn’t pan out the way he would have hoped, however, with one horrible mix-up with Alisson at Leicester playing a role in a 3-1 defeat on his debut.

“He lost his next game, too, at home to Everton, before missing the final five matches of the season through injury.”

Elsewhere in the football world

• Bukayo Saka has signed a new five-year contract at Arsenal and will become the club’s best-paid player on over £300,000 per week (BBC Sport)

• The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust has accused their club of editing minutes from a recent meeting, taking out a line saying the club “welcomed the input” of supporters (Sky Sports)

• Man United won’t re-negotiate the £26m clause that allows Barcelona to make Marcus Rashford‘s stay permanent (Sky Sports)

Liverpool FC: On this day

Philippe Coutinho scored his first goal for Liverpool on February 17, 2013 as Liverpool beat Swansea 5-0 at Anfield in the league.

Six days earlier, the little Brazilian came off the bench to make his debut and it didn’t take long for supporters to realise the magic he possessed.

He would go on to score 54 goals in total over the next five years before leaving in an unceremonious manner to Barcelona for up to £142m.

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Nottingham Forest‘s new head coach, Vitor Pereira spoke with confidence about ensuring his new club’s Premier League safety ahead of Liverpool’s visit this weekend.

Forest currently sit three points above the relegation zone and have just appointed their fourth coach of the season, with Pereira replacing Sean Dyche.

Dyche took over from Ange Postecoglou, who stepped in after Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked in early September, with owner Evangelos Marinakis quick to pull the trigger.

Forest have not won any of their last five home league matches and will host Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, less than three days after their trip to Fenerbahce in the Europa League.

Pos Team W D L Pts 6 Liverpool 12 6 8 42 17 Nott’m Forest 7 6 13 27

A ‘new manager bounce’ will be expected and will put Arne Slot and Co. on notice, with Pereira confident he can keep Forest out of the relegation spots in the final 12 games.

“I prefer to speak about the present and the future. But you know this is a difficult season for the players, because it’s different methodologies, different managers,” he said in a press conference on Tuesday.

“It’s not easy, but I believe the reason why I accept this job is because I believe in the quality of the players, because I believe in the potential of this club, the ambition of the president.

“Of course, I believe that it’s possible (to stay up). I believe that we can get points, results and quality in the games.”

What Liverpool can expect vs. Nottingham Forest on Sunday

As for what Liverpool could expect on Sunday, Pereira wants a team playing without fear and with the freedom to express themselves, which could be dangerous if not snuffed out early, as experienced in the 3-0 defeat at Anfield.

“I want to see the team spirit, everybody fighting and competing without fear. And quality,” he told Forest TV. “They need to understand the quality of the idea and to express themselves in the idea.

“I want to create the freedom for them to express themselves and feel happy.

“The quality is there, for sure. It was there, the first training with me, but I enjoy it. It was freezing, it was raining, but they have quality.

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“Sometimes we need the confidence to express ourselves without being afraid to make mistakes. We must have the confidence to try again, this is a moment we need to believe in ourselves as a team.

“I cannot change a lot because it is impossible playing every three days, it means they need to be intelligent, and I believe we can create something strong together.

“My challenge and the challenge for them is to play their best version, not to think about what might happen, the future we don’t know, we can just think about the present and hard work.”

Liverpool have the week off heading into the league fixture, while Forest have an away trip at Fenerbahce on Thursday evening, making it a quick turnaround for the hosts.

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