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 17 Set Piece Takers
Arsenal
With ESR still out of the lineup, we again saw Martinelli taking right-footed corners (63of them). Saka was again preferred to Odegaard on lefty corners and took 2. Odegaard did take 2 free kicks though, including 1 shot on target. Xhaka also took 1 direct free kick (off target). Martinelli got a small knock and could be replaced by ESR next game (who would then take corners) due to it or rotation. Lacazette took 1 penalty kick but missed it.
Aston Villa
Just like the past three weeks, it was McGinn and Luiz splitting set pieces for Villa. Luiz took 6 corners and McGinn took 4 corners and 2 free kicks. Buendia also started and got 0 as we hypothesized last week with Luiz on the field.
Brentford
Did not play, as game was postponed
Brighton
Gross did not play, and likely has COVID. As a result, March and Moder split corners (3 each) and free kicks (2 each). Trossard also got one direct free kick, and after subbing on Mac Allister got 1 corner and 2 free kick crosses. Mac Allister is right-footed, so if he was to start, it looks like he'd be preferred over Moder for dead balls.
Burnley
Did not play, as game was postponed
Chelsea
Like last week, Mount took some corners(2). Unlike the past 2 weeks, Alonso was back on some corners in his 65 minutes played (3). After subbing on, Barkley also took 2 corners. Reece James has 3 free kicks (including 1 shot on target) and Alonso took the remaining 1 free kick (shot off target).
Crystal Palace
Hughes and Gallagher again split corners (2 and 1 respectively), before Olise came in and proceeded to take 1 as well. Looks like Olise may be preferred to Hughes as the lefty taker. Hughes and Gallagher both had 2 free kick crosses as well.
Everton
Gray, Townsend, and Digne were all absent for various reasons this week, and as a result, Gordon was the dominant set piece taker. He took 1 corner and 1 free kick cross, a beautiful assist for Everton's game-tieing goal. Jonjoe Kenny took the other free kick cross. Townsend and Digne could be out a while and Gray atleast another week, so Gordon will prosper in the mean time.
Leicester City
Did not play, as game was postponed
Leeds
As usual by now Dallas and Raphinha split corners. However, Adam Forshaw did get 1 direct free kick as well.
Liverpool
As almost always Alexander-Arnold and Robertson split corners. Outside of 1 of them missing time, that should always be the case. Salah took and scored a penalty.
Manchester City
Even with KDB starting, Mahrez and Foden split corners (3 each). KDB did get 2 free kicks though, as did Mahrez.
Manchester United
Did not play, as game was postponed
Newcastle
They only got 2 free kicks (both shots off target) and Jonjo Shelvely and Schar took 1 a piece. AN important call out is that recent starting left back Jamal Lewis sustained a bad injury, so Ritchie looks likely to be back in the side soon, and as a result cut into Shelvey's near set piece monopoly.
Norwich City
Gilmour and Placheta again split corners, and Gilmour got 2 free kick crosses. Kieran Dowell subbed on for Placheta and then got 1 corner as well.
Southampton
JWP took almost all sets including 7 corners, 4 free kick cross, and a free kick shot, resulting in a beautiful goal. The one outlier was Will Smallbone who took 1 free kick cross.
Tottenham
Did not play, as game was postponed
Watford
Cleverley and Cucho both started, but it was Cleverley who got their 2 corners, including an assist to Dennis. Cucho did get Watford's 1 free kick shot (off target) but didn't have a great game and was subbed off early.
West Ham
In Cresswell's continued absence, Fornals and Bowen each took 1 corner, and Bowen and Benrahma each took 1 free kick.
Wolves
An interesting week for Wolves, as Trincao and Marcal split corners (2 each). Ait-Nouri did not start, but Moutinho did. Moutinho did get 1 free kick cross though, and Daniel Podence got 1 direct free kick.
Things to Watch Out For From This Week
Who will take set pieces for Spurs if Son and/or others are ruled out?
How long will usual Everton set piece takers be out for, and will Gordon be rosterable in the mean time as a result?
Will Marcal continue to take corners (and start with Ait-Nouri) hurt?
Will Lacazette take Arsenal's next penalty kick despite missing?
Things to Watch Out For From Previous Weeks
Have Odegaard and Alonso lost corner-taking duties completely? Yes and no it seems
Will we see 8 penalty kicks taken, and scored, again in a gameweek this season? Heck no, only 0/1 this week
Will Will Hughes or Jensen continue to start and take set pieces? Yes and TBD
Will Bruno continue to be more involved in corners under Rangnick? Yes, it seems likely
Will Lanzini or Martinelli continue to start, and take set pieces? Yes and yes (for now)
Will Fraser and Ritchie continue on the bench, leaving all sets to Jonjo Shelvey? For the most part yes, but probably not going forward.
Will Olise or Eze start for Palace and have priority over Mili and Gallagher for set pieces? TBC but not yet
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