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 24 & 25 Set Piece Takers
Arsenal
In GW24, Martinelli, and Odegaard split corners (3 to 1) and Saka had 0. Its a concerning trend for Saka managers that Odegaard continues to steal corners from him.
Aston Villa
In GW24, Luiz and DIgne each had 3 corners and 1 free kick. In GW25, Digne had 4 corners, Luiz 1, and McGinn 2. Digne took 3 free kicks to Luiz's 2 and Coutinho did not feature at all from set plays. It seems like McGinn has almost entirely conceded his duties to Digne, but Coutinho is not involved, somewhat surprisingly.
Brentford
In GW24, Jensen took all 3 of Brentford's corners. However, previous takers Mbeumo and Janelt did not start. In GW25, both did start but only Mbeumo got 2 corners, to Jensen's 1. It appears Janelt has all but lost out on his set piece taking duties to the other 2, but that could change if Jensen drops out of the XI (and Janelt does not).
Brighton
In GW25's first game Mac Allister got 2 corners and 2 free kicks to Gross's 3 corners. Against United, they each had 1 corner.
Burnley
In GW24, Westwood and Cornet each got 1 corner, and McNeil and Pieters each took 1 free kick. In GW25, McNeil saw a rare benching and Cornet and Westwood split corners (3 to 2), with Cornet getting their 1 free kick cross. McNeil's floor looks to have dropped slightly with Cornet stealing his corners.
Chelsea
Games were both postponed due to the Club World Cup. However, in that competition, Mason Mount was injured and will likely be out multiple weeks which will open the door for more set pieces (and play time) for Ziyech, Hudson-Odoi, and Alonso.
Crystal Palace
In GW24, Olise started but Gallagher still got all 6 corners. Zaha took, but missed a penalty. In GW25, Gallagher and Hughes split corners (6 to 2) and free kicks (1 to 1). Olise subbed on and took 1 corner in his 13 minute appearance. For now, it appears Gallagher still has the upper hand.
Everton
In GW24, Demarai Gray took 1 corner before subbing off injured for Dele Alli, who took the remaining 1 corner. Gordon and Townsend also started and each got 1 free kick cross. In GW25, Anthony Gordon was the only usual set piece taker to start and hence got 3 corners before being subbed off for El Ghazi who proceeded to take the remaining 2 corners. Gray remains out in GW26, and Townsend does not appear to be favored in the starting XI, so Gordon could dominate again, unless Alli starts and factors in.
Leicester City
In GW24, Maddison had a near monopoly, taking 5 corners and 1 free kick to Albrighton's 1 corner. In GW25, Dewsbury-Hall was back in the mix taking left-footed corners (3) alongside Maddison's 2 right footed ones. KDH even got a free kick (but only after Maddison subbed off the pitch). Tielemans took and scored a penalty with Vardy absent. If Maddison ends up missing time due to an injury in Europa League, KDH & Tielemans are the likely beneficiaries of more set pieces.
Leeds
In GW24, Dallas and Raphinha split corners per usual (6 to 4) and Raphinha got 2 free kicks. In GW25, Dallas did not play so Harrison, Rodrigo, and Raphinha each got 1 corner. The first 2 appear to be the beneficiaries of the injured Dallas.
Liverpool
In GW24 and 25, Alexander-Arnold and Robertson split duties evenly as normal.
Manchester City
In GW24, KDB and Mahrez split corners and KDB and Foden each got 1 free kick. Mahrez took and scored a penalty. In GW25, KDB was benched so Mahrez and Gundogan split corners (8 to 4) and Gundogan and Foden free kicks (1 to 2). Sterling took but missed a penalty (with usual taker Mahrez off the field at the time).
Manchester United
In GW24, we saw something strange with Sancho taking 4 corners, Shaw 4, and Bruno 2. In GW25's first game Bruno took United's 1 corner and Shaw took their 2 free kick crosses. Against Brighton, Bruno had 5 corners, Shaw had 2, and Telles had 2. Telles and Shaw actually played together for once and it looks like Telles might have priority there (but 95% chance it doesn't ever come up again). Bruno took the 1 free kick shot of the night. Sancho's corners seem like an anomaly and not something to expect going forward.
Newcastle
In GW24, Trippier took 5 corners and 5 free kicks, and Shelvey had the 1 other corner. Trippier scored a beautiful free kick. In GW25, Trippier took and scored a direct free kick again, before being subbed off with a serious injury. As a result Fraser took all 3 corners. Fraser and less-so Shelvey will likely split going forward with Trippier out.
Norwich City
In GW24, Rashica had all 4 corners, and substitute Gilmour had 1 free kick. In GW25, Gilmour started and stole set pieces entirely from Rashica, taking 4 corners and 1 free kick.
Southampton
JWP all day for both weeks, except a rare Elyounoussi short corner.
Tottenham
In GW24 & 25, Son took 7 corners and 2 free kicks, with Kane taking the remaining 1 direct free kick (on target) and Reguilon 1 corner.
Watford
In GW24 & 25, Kiko Femenia took the majority of sets including 9 corners and 1 free kick. Dennis and the subbed on Louza also each had 1 free kick in GW25, and Louza had 1 corner in GW24. If Louza continues not starting, it appears to be a near monopoly for Femenia.
West Ham
In GW24 Bowen took all 5 corners for West Ham. In GW25, Cresswell and Bowen took 2 corners, and Cresswell and Coufal each had 1 free kick.
Wolves
In GW24, Podence took 4 corners, Ait-Nouri took 2, and Trincao took 1. The latter 2 also each got 1 free kick. In GW25, youngster Luke Cundle got a rare start (in Moutinho's absence) and had 2 corners, with Ait-Nouri taking 1 as well as their sole free kick. Podence started and got 0. Moutinho is really the only one you can generally count on to be involved if and when he starts.
Things to Watch Out For From This Week
Have Mbeumo & Janelt fully won over set pieces and Janelt lost them?
Has Saka lost his set piece taking duties?
Who will prosper in Mount, Trippier, and Maddison's (potential) absences?
Will Femenia stay as the near-monopoly set piece taker for Watford?
How will Gilmour and Rashica split set pieces?
Things to Watch Out For From Previous Weeks
Will Townsend or Gordon stick in Everton's starting lineup and get sets over Gray? Still evolving with Lampard, but Gordon has stuck around.
Will Cornet take more sets than McNeil? Seems like Cornet will take more corners that McNeil
How will Coutinho and Digne factor into Villa's set piece taker equation? Seems like Digne will takeover from McGinn but Luiz will keep his set pieces instead of Coutinho.
Is KDH here to stay and will he keep taking right-sided, left-footed corners over Maddison? He's come and gone multiple times now, but with Maddison hurt KDH should be plenty involved
Will Olise or Eze ever start for Palace and have priority over Hughes, Mili and Gallagher for set pieces? Olise has begun to start more and take a share, but not a majority of sets
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