Set-pieces are expected to shape the 2026-27 Premier League season, with Arsenal earning the 'set-piece kings' label en route to their first title in 22 years, and Bruno Fernandes breaking the assist record with help from dead-ball situations.
Key set-piece moments last season
Dominik Szoboszlai's free-kick for Liverpool against Arsenal made the Goal of the Season shortlist, and several teams used creative set-pieces to gain extra points. Chelsea triggered Austin McPhee's release clause at Aston Villa to recruit him as a set-piece coach this summer.
Penalty takers across the league
For penalties, Fernandes is a primary option for Manchester United, while Arsenal have Bukayo Saka, Viktor Gyokeres and new signing Bruno Guimaraes. Liverpool must appoint a new taker after Mohamed Salah's exit, with Alexander Isak and Szoboszlai as candidates. Erling Haaland remains reliable for Manchester City, and Joao Pedro may take some penalties from Cole Palmer at Chelsea. Igor Thiago was nearly perfect from the spot for Brentford, and Sandro Tonali could take penalties for Tottenham after his £100million transfer. Jean-Philippe Mateta is set to stay at Crystal Palace and remain on penalty duty, while Gonzalo Garcia may take over at Fulham from the departed Raul Jimenez, having inherited his shirt number.
Free-kick and corner specialists
All 20 clubs have several players capable of taking set-pieces, including usual suspects at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United, Manchester City and Spurs, plus new faces like Christos Tzolis, Ryan Giles and Jack Rudoni.
Arsenal: Penalties - Saka, Gyokeres, Guimaraes, Havertz, Odegaard; Free-kicks - Rice, Eze, Tzolis; Corners - Rice, Saka, Guimaraes, Odegaard, Tzolis, Madueke. Aston Villa: Penalties - Watkins, Buendia; Free-kicks - Buendia, McGinn; Corners - Cash. Bournemouth: Penalties - Kroupi Jr, Kluivert Tavernier; Free-kicks - Tavernier, Kluivert, Brooks, Scott; Corners - Tavernier, Kluivert, Brooks, Scott. Brentford: Penalties - Thiago; Free-kicks - Lewis-Potter, Jensen; Corners - Jensen, Janelt. Brighton: Penalties - Groß; Free-kicks - Groß; Corners - Groß. Chelsea: Penalties - Palmer, Fernandez, Joao Pedro; Free-kicks - James, Fernandez; Corners - James, Neto, Fernandez. Coventry: Penalties - Wright, Torp; Free-kicks - Rudoni, Torp; Corners - Grimes, Torp. Crystal Palace: Penalties - Mateta, Sarr; Free-kicks - Pino, Kamada; Corners - Kamada, Pino, Wharton. Everton: Penalties - Ndiaye, Barry; Free-kicks - Garner; Corners - Garner, Dewsbury-Hall. Fulham: Penalties - Garcia, Muniz; Free-kicks - Iwobi; Corners - Bobb, Iwobi. Hull: Penalties - McBurnie; Free-kicks - Giles; Corners - Giles. Ipswich: Penalties - Clarke, Hirst, Emersonn; Free-kicks - Nunez, Davis; Corners - Davis, Nunez. Leeds: Penalties - Calvert-Lewin, Nmecha; Free-kicks - Stach; Corners - Stach. Liverpool: Penalties - Isak, Szoboszlai; Free-kicks - Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Corners - Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Wirtz. Man City: Penalties - Haaland, Semenyo, Marmoush; Free-kicks - Cherki, Foden; Corners - Cherki, Anderson. Manchester United: Penalties - Fernandes, Mbeumo; Free-kicks - Fernandes, Tielemans; Corners - Fernandes, Amad, Tielemans. Newcastle: Penalties - Woltemade; Free-kicks - Hall; Corners - Hall, L. Miley. Nottingham Forest: Penalties - Wood, Gibbs-White, Jesus; Free-kicks - Gibbs-White, Williams; Corners - Williams, Schlager. Sunderland: Penalties - Diarra, Le Fee; Free-kicks - Xhaka, Le Fee; Corners - Le Fee, Xhaka, Hume. Tottenham: Penalties - Solanke, Richarlison, Tonali; Free-kicks - Porro, Maddison, Tonali; Corners - Porro, Tonali.
