Fantrax EPL: 22/23 Set Piece Takers

Set pieces are an incredibly important part of football, with between 25% and 33% of goals scored coming from a set piece. They are equally important in Fantrax EPL, and in these articles we will highlight the trends in set pieces that will lead to player value fluctuation.

Be sure to check out our other Inner Circle features, including the Fixture Difficulty Tracker and Weekly Projections.

Check out @DraftLad's article on why set pieces matter so much and our Set Piece Tracker for more set piece data!

EPL 22/23 Set Piece Takers

Note: Many websites will give you lists of set piece takers, sometimes split up by corners, free kicks, and penalties, sometimes not. We aim to do far better than that. We will tell you in what contexts different players will take sets and which kinds, and how they're preferred compared to their teammates. Sets are not remotely black and white, they're a constantly evolving gray.

Biggest Winners so Far:

Digne, Tavernier, Reece James, Pereira, Aaronson, Gibbs-White, Neto, Dasilva

Biggest Losers so Far:

Mount, Gordon, Bruno Fernandes, De Bruyne

Arsenal

Soares, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli and Smith-Rowe all took part in the set piece (corners and free kicks) merry-go-round last season. Towards the end of last season, Saka looked to be the preferred left footed corner taker. Odegaard was the preferred free kick taker (both direct and indirect). Soares was the preferred righty corner (and fk) taker. This season, it looks similar. But Martinelli or Smith-Rowe will likely get righty corners (given that Soares won't play that often). Saka looks likely to continue to take penalty kicks as he took 1 with Jesus on the pitch in pre-season. GW1 saw Saka on lefty corners, Martinelli on righties, and Odegaard on free kicks.

Aston Villa

Digne, Luiz, and McGinn took most sets for Villa last year. However, McGinn only took them when Digne didn't start, so Digne should be expected to take nearly all the left-footed corners and free kicks (and McGinn none, hence hurting his fantasy value). Douglas Luiz was the preferred righty corner and free kick taker, but in the very real possibility that he doesn't start (with Kamara now around, and Ramsey and McGinn the possible 8 pairing), they'll be up for grabs. Coutinho could end up the benefactor and taker of righty set pieces without Luiz. But in case both don't play, those could fall to Buendia as well. If Danny Ings is playing, he's the preferred penalty taker, but without him, it will likely be Watkins or Coutinho. In GW1, Luiz was benched, but it was Digne who took corners from Luiz's usual side (via outswingers) as well as his usual inswingers. McGinn took 1 short corner.

Bournemouth

Jaidon Anthony (righty) and Ryan Christie (lefty) look to be the main set piece takers when they play. However, new signing Marcus Tavernier (lefty) took even more sets for Boro last season and looks like he could take over. Stanislas (righty) may play very infrequently, but when he does he's often involved as well. Solanke is the designated penalty taker, and Billing often takes direct free kicks (but Tavernier also probably factors in here). In GW1, Tavernier started and Christie and Anthony did not, so he ended up taking all corners and free kicks. Christie subbed on for him and took 1 corner.

Brentford

With Eriksen gone, the set piece monopoly is broken, and will be split up among Jensen, Mbeumo, Janelt, and Dasilva. When he plays, Jensen is the preferred righty taker, and will sometimes take corners on both sides. Towards the end of last season, Mbeumo became the preferred lefty corner and free kick taker over Janelt. However, if Jensen doesn't start, Janelt will often take them on the other side. A dark horse righty to watch out for is Keane Lewis-Potter, as he's right-footed and took a few sets for Hull last season. If Jensen doesn't start much, KLP could take over righty duties eventually. In GW1, Jensen and Janelt (and Mbeumo) started and it was Jensen who took 3 corners. However, when he was subbed off, it was his sub, Josh Dasilva (lefty), who took 3 corners, interestingly, instead of fellow lefties Mbeumo and Janelt who were still on the pitch. One to monitor.

Brighton

The Seagulls' sets will mostly be split between March, Gross, and Mac Allister. At different times, each has been preferred on their respective side of the pitch. Most recently in preseason, though, Mac Allister was responsible for righty in-swingers and Gross righty out-swingers (where a lefty would normally take in-swingers). If it stays this way, it's great news for Mac Allister managers, not great for Gross's, and disappointing for March's as he's the only lefty of the 3. The penalty priority order is likely Maupay then Gross then Mac Allister. Maupay doesn't play a ton so it often falls to Gross, but maybe even more so Mac Allister this season. In GW1, Gross took 2 corners and 1 free kick, so we haven't learned much.

Chelsea

With Ziyech and Alonso likely leaving, Mount, Chilwell, and Reece James remain as the likely set piece takers. Mount or Reece each got their chances as the preferred righty corner taker, Chilwell the lefty corner taker, and Reece the free kick taker. If Alonso does stick around, when he plays he'll mostly be preferred on lefties just like Chilwell. Jorginho will surely stay the #1 penalty taker when he plays, but when he doesn't, those responsibilities will likely fall to Mount or Havertz (Mount first). In GW1, Reece was the preferred righty corner-taker (taking 13, some of them from the out-swinging side too), and Chilwell the lefty while he played. When Cucurella came on he also took 1 lefty, so the left back spot might be the default lefty corner taker. Jorginho took a pen and scored it. James also took 5 free kicks (including 1 shot). Fantastic news for Reece managers and poor news for Mount managers thus far. A bit of good news for Cucurella managers as well.

Crystal Palace

Conor Gallagher is gone now so most sets will fall to Eze & Olise. Eze is a righty and Olise a lefty so they'll likely split corners and free kicks 50/50 (when both on the pitch, but near monopolies when not). Milivojevic and Hughes, when they infrequently play, may steal a couple off their younger teammates. Zaha should be the primary penalty taker. In GW1, Olise was injured so only Eze got sets, taking 3 corners and 1 free kick.

Everton

Gordon and Gray (and Townsend) are the remaining Everton takers from last year. However, both are righties and Townsend, a lefty, likely wont play much. Thankfully, incoming McNeil is known for his left-footed set piece prowess, so when he's playing he'll likely dominate lefty takes. Gray and Gordon traded sets but most recently, it was Gray. However, Gordon might end up playing more (and when he does, and Gray doesn't, and vice versa, he's more valuable). When McNeil doesn't play, it'll mostly be the 2 G's but watch out for some lefty Mykolenko-taken corners as well. Calvert-Lewin will be the primary penalty taker. In GW1, all 3 of Gordon, Gray, and McNeil started and it was Gray who took righty corners, and McNeil lefties. Gray also took 2 free kicks.

Fulham

Harry Wilson was the dominant left-footed set piece taker for Fulham last season. Of those remaining on the team, Neeskans Kebano and Harrison Reed were the righty takers (but took far less than Wilson). However, new man Andreas Pereira (right-footed) is known for his sets and split them down the middle with Wilson in preseason. With Wilson out for awhile, Pereira could very possibly have a monopoly going forward. Mitrovic will be the penalty taker; he successfully dispatched a penalty in GW1. Pereira had a monopoly on other sets, taking corners from both sides as well as a free kick.

Leicester City

Maddison will be the primary righty corner and free kick taker. Surprisingly, for the last 5 weeks of last season, Dewsbury-Hall took nearly every right-sided corner (via his left foot). So he may actually split corners with Maddison at times. Madds still got most of the free kicks, though, with Albrighton chipping in during his infrequent starts. In Maddison's absence, Tielemans will be the backup righty (assuming all these guys are still around). Vardy is the default penalty taker and Tielemans the backup. In GW1, it was Maddison who took all 5 corners (from both sides) despite KDH also starting. This is good news for Maddison-rosterers

Leeds

With Raphinha gone, set pieces are up for grabs. Jack Harrison will very continue taking lefties as the preferred player there. Since pre-season, Aaronson seemed to be the preferred righty (from preseason data), but when Dallas eventually comes back from injury, he may take his duties back. No signs yet, but it also wouldn't be surprisingto see new signing, Sinisterra, also take some righties. Bamford, then Klich will be the preferred penalty takers most likely. In GW1, as expected, Harrison and Aaronson split corners (and Harrison got 1 free kick).

Liverpool

As usual, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson will split corners and free kicks fairly evenly, as the righty and left, respectively. If TAA is not playing, Milner will take his righties (if not, Jones or Henderson likely would). If Robbo is not playing, his likely replacement, Tsimikas, will take all his sets. For penalties, Salah gets the vast majority, but when on the pitch, James Milner still looks to be the preferred taker. Salah is 2nd up and almost always the one who's actually taking them.

Manchester City

Mahrez is the preferred lefty set-piece taker when he plays. KDB is usually the preferred righty taker. When Mahrez doesn't play, Foden becomes the preferred lefty taker. When KDB is out, Gundogan is the preferred righty. Bernardo Silva and Grealish get in on corners every so often, but infrequently. Mahrez was the preferred penalty taker but he's likely to lose his job to Haaland (who took and scored the solitary pen in GW1, without Mahrez on the field). Foden, Gundogan, Mahrez, and Grealish all took 1 corner in GW1, with KDB surprisingly taking 0. Gundogan took the 1 direct free kick shot. One to monitor for KDB managers, as this was a departure from last season

Manchester United

Christian Eriksen adds more complexity to the United set piece dynamic. When he plays, Eriksen is a good bet to feature on most right-footed set pieces, particularly corners and crossed free kicks. Bruno and Ronaldo may still get some direct free kick shots and will certainly get penalty kicks. When Eriksen does not play, Bruno will continue taking most righty set pieces. As for lefties, Shaw will likely dominate them when he's on the pitch, and surprisingly, it looks like left-footed Malacia will also be taking lefty corners when he plays! There may be some lefty free kicks up for grabs (if Malacia doesn't end up monopolizing them) for Bruno/Eriksen. One to watch is Sancho featuring on more righty corners, but with the introduction of Eriksen, that feels unlikely. In GW1, Eriksen, Bruno, and Shaw all got 2 corners, and Eriksen took 1 free kick.

Newcastle

Kieran Trippier will be the preferred right-footed corner and free kick taker. Ryan Fraser, who is unlikely feature much, could take some of those when he plays. If neither play, it'll be Shelvey or Jacob Murphy. Matt Targett has the fortune of being the only lefty taker, thus he's the default taker of lefty corners and some free kicks. Still, Trippier and Fraser are able to take out-swinging corners instead of Targett at times. Schar will also take a direct free kick every now and then. Callum Wilson and Chris Wood are the number 1 and number 2 preferred penalty takers. In GW1, as expected, Trippier and Targett split set piece duties down the middle.

Nottingham Forest

Most of Forest's set piece takers from last season have moved on, and the only two that are left are Brennan Johnson (right-footed) and Jack Colback (left-footed). But they also have two new signings that could also be involved (Lingard & Neco Williams). In preseason, Johnson took nearly everything, and he also took pens last season. In GW1, Johnson took their 1 corner and Williams their 1 free kick cross. If they manage to sign Morgan Gibbs-White (right-footed) from Wolves, he could take over set pieces as well (when he's on the pitch, anyways).

Southampton

James Ward-Prowse has the best set piece monopoly in the league. Corners, free kicks and penalties are all his when he plays. In case he misses time, Nathan Redmond or Stuart Armstrong will likely take over corner and free kick duties. The penalties would be up for grabs but likely go to an attacker. A new signing could play into the set piece picture, too, but impossible to say at the moment because of JWP's record. He dominated set pieces in GW 1 v Tottenham, as expected.

Tottenham

Son had a near set-piece monopoly last season (with the exception of pens) and that should continue. If he misses time, Harry Winks, Hojbjerg, and Sessegnon could step up (they all took a couple of corners last season). New signing Perisic hasn't taken many set pieces recently (for Inter) but could also factor in. Kane and Dier each take the occasional direct free kick shot. Kane will continue to be preferred on penalties (with Son his backup). In GW1, Son took 8 corners, including from both sides. Kulusevski did take 2 short corners in a new routine, but it's nothing to read into yet.

West Ham

There was a rotating cast of set piece takers last season. Bowen (lefty) and Cresswell (lefty) took most free kick crosses, and split corners with Fornals (righty) and Lanzini (righty). Cresswell was the most frequent direct free kick taker (for shots) but Benrahma (righty) chipped in there as well. The penalty depth chart looks to be Lanzini, Antonio, then Rice (which could be relevant with the first 2 potentially not playing). It's still to be determined whether new striker Scamacca fits into that pens depth chart. In GW1, Fornals took 1 corner and Bowen 1 free kick.

Wolves

Like West Ham, Wolves had a multi-man, rotating set piece depth chart last season. Moutinho, Neves, Ait-Nouri, Podence, and Neto were all involved. Add in returnee, Morgan Gibbs-White, and it gets even messier. Moutinho is usually the preferred corner taker and Neves the direct free kick taker but it changed often. In GW1, Moutinho had a knock, but Neto, Podence, Ait-Nouri, and Gibbs-White all started. Neto took 2 lefty corners and 1 free kick and GIbbs-White took 2 righty corners and 1 free kick as well. When Moutinho is back, MGW may miss out. If MGW goes to Forest (as the odds sugesst he's likely to), sets will either go back to Moutinho or Podence/Neves (the righties).

Critical Situations to Watch Develop Early Season

Will Digne continue taking corners on both sides (in Luiz's absence) or will a righty get involved?
Will Tavernier continue taking set pieces from both sides and be preferred over Anthony and Christie when they all share the pitch?
Will Dasilva continue taking sets, and will he start?
Will Mount continue to miss out on sets altogether?
Will Bruno and Eriksen keep splitting righty sets?
Will KDB be less involved in sets this season?
What will happen with Forest set pieces? And will Neco or Lingard be involved?
What will happen with Wolves set pieces? Will MGW lose out when Moutinho returns? Will Neto take all lefties over Ait-Nouri?