Set Piece Takers for Every Premier League Team

This article will be updated in live time throughout the season

Arsenal:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Saka 2. Gyokeres	1. Rice 2. Saka	1. Saka 2. Rice

• Saka is Arsenal’s primary penalty taker. He is 14/17 in his career for club and country.
• Gyokeres did score 12 penalties in the Primeira Liga last season and is an excellent penalty taker in general. He strikes the ball hard and accurately, what more do you need.
• Arteta was asked on the 27/7 if Gyokeres would be the number one penalty taker now, and he answered “I’m sure they will step in if they allow him to. As you say he’s been very consistent and he’s scored many of those but we have so many penalty takes, good ones as well so that will be resolved by themselves and if not, I will intervene!” Certainly a positive sign.
• Rice will take the majority of free kicks after the Real Madrid performance and those 2 free kicks, but there are times that call for a left footer to strike it from a certain angle, and that would be cemented as Saka over Odegaard this season.

Aston Villa:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Watkins 2. Tielemans	1. McGinn 2. Digne 3. Tielemans	1. Tielemans 2. McGinn 3. Digne

• Watkins does often take penalties when fit and starting, however he may be leaving Aston Villa before the window ends. Secondly, his penalty record is not great. Since becoming a Premier League player, he is 5/8. Tielemans or potentially a new option may emerge as the number 1 penalty taker this season.
• McGinn is the top free kick option but if a right footer is needed, its usually Tielemans.

Bournemouth:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Kluivert 2. Evanilson	1. Tavernier 2. O. Dango 3. Scott 4. Kluivert	1. Cook 2. Tavernier 3. Kluivert 4. Christie

• After Iraola confirmed Evanilson and Kluivert were his penalty takers last season, Evanilson missed his first and then got injured. Kluivert then went on to convert his next 6 including a hattrick of penalties against Wolves.
• Tavernier is a set piece specialist when it comes to free kicks and corners however he is not a guaranteed starter when fit and so someone like Cook takes a lot of corners and Ouattara and Scott get opportunities with free kicks.

Brentford:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Wissa 2. Damsgaard	1. Damsgaard 2. Lewis-Potter	1. Damsgaard 2. Jensen

• Wissa has left Brenford’s pre season training camp in order to force a move to Newcastle. He is unhappy that Brentford have broken a gentleman’s agreement to allow him to leave for £26 million if the buying club is in the Champions League.
• So Damsgaard would be the man to be on penalties as well as free kicks if he was not in the squad GW1 or is sold.

Brighton:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Welbeck 2. O'Riley 3. Rutter	1. Welbeck 2. O'Riley 3. Ayari 4. Gruda	1. O'Riley 2. Ayari 3. Gruda

• Welbeck has a good record on penalties although a small sample size (4/5) and scored an incredible direct free kicks in the league last year.
• O’Riley, Ayari and Gruda should all see increased minutes this season as exciting young players and are all quality set piece takers that could certainly put their name in the mix.

Burnley:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Barnes 2. Bruun Larsen	1. Anthony 2. Flemming 3. Hannibal	1. Anthony 2. Lucas Pires 3. Edwards

• Barnes and Bruun Larsen took penalties for Burnley when they played for the club in previous stints which is key because last season’s penalty takers, Brownhill and Rodriguez have left the club.

Chelsea:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Palmer 2. Joao Pedro 3. Enzo	1. Palmer 2. James 3. Enzo	1. Enzo 2. Palmer 3. James 4. Neto

• Palmer is really the only man we need to focus on when it comes to penalties and free kicks. Joao Pedro will likely take pens if Palmer was to get injured or be rested.
• Enzo and Reece James are factors on free kicks and corners.

Crystal Palace:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Mateta 2. Eze	1. Eze 2. Wharton	1. Eze 2. Wharton 3. Kamada 4. Hughes

• With Eze possibly leaving for Arsenal, maybe now or in January or even next summer, Mateta may gets a hold of the number 1 penalty taker role unless Eze maybe signs a new deal or Arsenal cool their interest entirely and sign someone else. Of course, if Eze does end up staying beyond this summer window, he is always a factor once the games kick-off.
• Mateta has an excellent penalty record for club and country going 11/12. The one miss was against Villa last season.

Everton:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Ndiaye 2. Beto	1. Alcaraz 2. Garner 3. McNeil	1. McNeil 2. Garner

• Ndiaye is clearly the number 1 penalty taker, having taken all of Everton’s last season.
• Garner is a real factor for set pieces as is McNeil.

Fulham:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Raul 2. Andreas 3. Muniz	1. Andreas 2. Wilson 3. Smith-Rowe	1. Andreas 2. Wilson 3. Smith-Rowe

• The starting striker, whoever it ends up being out of Raul or Muniz will likely be the penalty taker, but Andreas Pereira is also a strong candidate.
• Andreas, Wilson and Smith-Rowe will battle it out for free kicks and corners.

Leeds:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Nmecha 2. Piroe	1. Piroe 2. Gruev	1. James 2. Gruev

• Nmecha took Leeds first penalty of the season to give them a 1-0 win over Everton in GW1.
• Piroe is however a serious contender for both penalties and free kicks. We will need to pay attention to how this plays out and how much Nmecha plays.
• Dan James on corners and potentially free kicks.

Liverpool:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Salah 2. Mac Allister 3. Szobszlai 4. Wirtz	1. Wirtz 2. Szoboszlai 3. Mac Allister 4. Salah	1. Wirtz 2. Mac Allister 3. Szoboszlai

• Salah is and will remain the primary penalty taker despite the 2 pre-season misses and even if Isak does eventually join Liverpool. Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Wirtz are about as good 2nd, 3rd and 4th penalty takers as you’ll find in Europe but likely won’t take on in a league game because Salah always plays.
• AFCON this season does mean for 4-6 games someone else will be on penalties. Who that is we will need to assess but my guess one of Szoboszlai or Mac Allister.
• With Alexander-Arnold now playing for Real Madrid, Wirtz, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai all become the major factors for free kicks and corners.
• Wirtz seems to be number 1 on corners through pre-season and GW1.

Man City:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Haaland 2. Marmoush 3. Foden	1. Marmoush 2. Foden 3. Gundogan	1. Bernardo 2. Marmoush 3. Gundogan 4. Foden

• Haaland or Marmoush will take penalties in league games. Haaland I imagine will have the primary role unless he gave it up, which he won’t.
• Marmoush and Foden will be the main factors to take free kicks and corners but Marmoush’s expected minutes are safer and he is the superior option anyway.

Man United:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Fernandes 2. Mbeumo 3. Cunha	1. Fernandes 2. Cunha 3. Mbeumo	1. Fernandes 2. Cunha 3. Mbeumo

• Simply put, United’s 3 best players, Fernandes, Cunha and Mbeumo will be the only players in contention for all set pieces. Bruno will likely be the team’s primary penalty and free kick taker unless he gives that up to the 2 future stars of the club.

Newcastle:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Isak 2. Gordon 3. Grimaraes	1. Schar 2. Isak 3. Tonali 4. Trippier	1. Hall 2. Tonali 3. Gordon 4. Trippier

• With Isak looking likely to leave the club, penalty duties will fall on Gordon and Bruno Grimaraes’ shoulders. I imagine Gordon would be the number 1.
• Schar and Tonali would probably be the main candidate’s for direct free kicks. Tonali for likely crossed free kicks as Schar is such a goal threat from headers.
• Hall and Tonali likely share corner duty.

Nottingham Forest:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Wood 2. Gibbs-White	1. Gibbs-White 2. Anderson	1. Anderson 2. Gibbs-White

• Wood and Gibbs White are the only players we really need to pay attention to when it comes to Forest set pieces.
• Wood will be on penalties.
• Gibbs-White will take the majority of direct free kicks.

Spurs:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Solanke 2. Son 3. Richarlison	1. Kudus 2. Porro 3. Maddison	1. Kudus 2. Porro 3. Maddison

• With Son looking likely to leave Spurs for the MLS, Solanke should be nailed for penalties.
• Kudus is a very good set piece taker and I think as Thomas Frank’s first signing, with very secure expected minutes, he is the top candidate to take free kicks and corners. Porro and Maddison will also share in those duties.

Sunderland:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Roberts 2. Isidor	1. Le Fee 2. Roberts	1. Le Fee 2. Roberts

West Ham:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Bowen 2. Paqueta 3. Ward-Prowse	1. Ward-Prowse 2. Bowen 3. Paqueta	1. Ward-Prowse 2. Paqueta 3. Emerson

• Bowen will be on penalties and also should be the free kick taker any time Ward-Prowse is not playing. As an £8.0 Forward Bowen is a steal.

Wolves:

Penalties	Free Kicks	Corners
1. Strand Larsen 2. Hee-Chan 3. Arias	1. Bellegarde 2. Agbadou	1. Bellegarde

• With Cunha gone, the set-piece duties are now all up for grabs, so we will have to pay close attention to who wins these roles for Wolves.

 

 

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