Liverpool circled their deficit at AC Milan with two set-piece objectives, with considered one of Arne Slot‘s help workers credited after the 3-1 victory on the San Siro.
The Reds went all the way down to an early objective 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 residence 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 time, and it has now been confirmed that place is being stuffed 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 return off his line from set-pieces,” Pearce wrote.
“The plan was to make the most 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 objective 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 lengthen 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 ends in Milan.
Talking in his post-match press convention, Slot admitted it was about time the work of his assistant was “rewarded” with objectives.
“We have been a bit disenchanted with the end result in opposition to Nottingham Forest, we have been additionally disenchanted at getting eight nook kicks and never scoring, however we have been very shut,” he instructed reporters.
“So we felt, with all of the work we put in at set-pieces, that at some second we should always get the reward.
“Two superb set-pieces, two superb headers that acquired us two objectives, which was vital.
“I feel we have been very snug on the ball, pressed rather well, however in the long run you want the objectives as properly.
“We hit the crossbar a number of instances as we speak out of open play, so we would have liked 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 as we speak.”
