Liverpool rotated their deficit at AC Milan with two set-piece objectives, with one in all Arne Slot‘s help employees credited after the 3-1 victory on the San Siro.
The Reds went all the way down to an early aim from Christian Pulisic solely to take the lead earlier than half-time with headers from Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk.
Each got here from related conditions within the six-yard field, with Konate leaping highest to nod in Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s free-kick earlier than Van Dijk discovered house to energy house Kostas Tsimikas‘ nook.
Liverpool exploited the weak spot of goalkeeper Mike Maignan earlier than Dominik Szoboszlai made it 3-1 by clipping in Cody Gakpo‘s drilled cross within the second half.
It was attention-grabbing to see the Reds rating two such objectives after promoting for a brand new specialist set-piece coach over the summer season, and it has now been confirmed that place is being crammed by Aaron Briggs.
The Athletic‘s James Pearce is amongst these to report on Briggs’ position, with journalist David Lynch explaining on his Substack that the membership have “paused” their search.
“Liverpool had recognized a weak spot pre-match of Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan being sluggish to come back off his line from set-pieces,” Pearce wrote.
“The plan was to reap the benefits of that vulnerability by placing balls into the six-yard field for Slot’s greatest aerial threats to assault in opposition to stationary defenders.”
Pearce additionally famous the enter of analysts Dan Spearritt, Joel Bonner and Jansen Moreno in addition to opposition analyst James French – the latter of whom was additionally credited by U21s coach Barry Lewtas after a set-piece aim in opposition to Man Metropolis final month.
Briggs was formally appointed as first-team improvement coach, filling the void left by Vitor Matos as a bridge between the academy and senior setup, however his duties prolong past that.
He was seen all through pre-season working with gamers on set-pieces and that has continued into the marketing campaign correct, with the primary tangible leads to Milan.
Talking in his post-match press convention, Slot admitted it was about time the work of his assistant was “rewarded” with objectives.
“We had been a bit disenchanted with the outcome in opposition to Nottingham Forest, we had been additionally disenchanted at getting eight nook kicks and never scoring, however we had been very shut,” he informed reporters.
“So we felt, with all of the work we put in at set-pieces, that at some second we must always get the reward.
“Two superb set-pieces, two superb headers that acquired us two objectives, which was vital.
“I feel we had been very comfy on the ball, pressed rather well, however ultimately you want the objectives as nicely.
“We hit the crossbar just a few occasions immediately out of open play, so we wanted set-pieces, it was good to see that we scored them for all of the work my assistant and the gamers put in.
“It’s good to see that it acquired rewarded immediately.”
