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.
Gameweek 14 Set Piece Takers
Arsenal
With Odegaard keeping his place in the side, he got the majority of set pieces, and even created 3 chances. ESR and Saka (off the bench) took the rest, with a direct free-kick shot for Partey.
Aston Villa
With Luiz back in the side, it was back to a McGinn/Luiz combo. Luiz proved particularly effective, with 2 chances created, including the assist for Watkins' goal.
Brentford
More bad news for Janelt fans, as for the second game in a row he went without taking a single set piece. Mbeumo and Canos shared duties, with Jensen filling in for Canos off the bench.
Brighton
With no Gross in the side and March coming on in the 13th minute, it was a surprise to see Jakub Moder taking all but one of the corners, given he hadn't taken any in his previous seven starts. Trossard chipped in with both a free-kick cross and a free-kick shot, and March took the other corner.
Burnley
We were expecting Brownhill to step up in Westwood's (suspended) absence, but it was Cornet who took four of the five corners, leaving Brownhill with just one. This is because Burnley favour inswinging corners, and four of the five corners were from the right. McNeil took a free-kick cross.
Chelsea
Highlighting the unpredictably of set pieces, Chelsea had zero corners against Watford. Alonso took all three free-kick crosses, from both sides of the pitch.
Crystal Palace
Things were a bit simpler this GW, with no Milivojevic, Olise or Eze starting. This led to set piece dominance for Gallagher once again, although Eze and Hughes took a free-kick cross and corner respectively in their sub appearances. Hughes (a leftie) could provide competition for Olise if he gets more game time.
Everton
No set pieces for Digne, with the old combo of Gray and Townsend sharing duties. Digne remains the team's primary set piece taker (just ahead of Townsend), but that's two of the last three matches where he's taken zero set pieces.
Leicester City
The Maddison resurgence continues: 100% of set piece duties for the first time this season, although usual set piece rivals Tielemans, Albrighton and Bertrand were all absent.
Leeds
The usual suspects: Raphinha (4 corners, 2 free-kick crosses) and Dallas (3 corners). Raphinha took and scored the penalty but that was without Bamford and Klich on the pitch. He likely remains third in line at best.
Liverpool
Alexander-Arnold and Robertson split duties, but there was a rare free-kick shot for van Dijk (a very tame effort that hit the base of the wall).
Manchester City
No KDB or Gundogan meant Mahrez dominated duties (8 corners, 1 free-kick shot). Sterling took 2 corners, his first set pieces of the season.
Manchester United
Sterling wasn't the only English winger taking his first set pieces of the season: Sancho took 2 corners, with Telles taking the other. No set pieces for Bruno for the 3rd game in a row.
Newcastle
With Ritchie suspended, Shelvey and Fraser took 1 corner each, and Wilson the penalty.
Norwich City
Gilmour took 100% of set pieces for the first time since GW2. Rashica was out, so they'll likely share when both are on the pitch.
Southampton
Shock horror: JWP didn't take every set piece. Nathan Tella took a short corner (a one-two with JWP) in what looked like a training ground routine. It nearly led to a goal, but Schmeichel made a good save. Only 3 set pieces in total for the Saints.
Tottenham
100% Son (10 corners, 1 free-kick cross). Few players dominate set pieces like Son does.
Watford
Rose came on for the injured Masina and ended up taking 4 of the 6 corners, with Cleverley and Louza taking the other two. Louza and Kucka (sub) both took a free-kick shot.
West Ham
Bowen continued to take the largest share of West Ham's set pieces, but in Cresswell's absence, Fornals got a couple of corners, as did Lanzini in a 14 minute sub appearance. Coufal took a free-kick cross.
Wolves
Alt-Nouri and Moutinho maintained their exclusive duopoly for the 4th gameweek in a row.
Things to Watch Out For From This Week
Can Sancho, Sterling and Moder keep hold of their set piece duties?
Things to Watch Out For From Previous Weeks
Will Olise or Eze start for Palace and have priority over Mili and Gallagher for set pieces? TBC
Will Fraser, Odegaard, and Young continue to start and take set pieces? Yes, yes, no
Will Sarr stay on Watford penalties after missing twice o will Josh King take them over after scoring one in GW13? TBC
Will Janelt get more set pieces again instead of Canos? No
How will United lineup and set piece takers change with new manager? Sancho to benefit?
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