FPL Set Piece Takers: Every Premier League Team’s Corners, Free Kicks and Penalties
Set pieces are one of the most undervalued factors in Fantasy Premier League. A player who takes corners, free kicks, and penalties has a built-in advantage over teammates who do not — they accumulate extra touches in dangerous areas, earn assist opportunities from deliveries, and have a direct route to goals from the penalty spot. Understanding which players hold set piece duties across the Premier League can be the edge that separates a top-100k manager from an average one.
In this guide, we break down the set piece responsibilities for every major Premier League team, explain why this information matters for FPL, and show you how to use it when planning your transfers.
Why Set Pieces Matter in FPL
Set pieces contribute a significant proportion of Premier League goals each season. Research consistently shows that around 25 to 30 per cent of all Premier League goals originate from set piece situations — penalties, direct free kicks, corners, and indirect free kicks. For FPL managers, this creates several important dynamics.
The Assist Potential
A player who takes corners and indirect free kicks is effectively given extra opportunities to register assists. Every corner delivery into a dangerous area is a chance for a teammate to head the ball home, and the delivery player picks up three FPL points for the assist. Over the course of a season, a regular corner taker might deliver 200 or more corners — each one a potential assist opportunity that a non-set-piece taker simply does not get.
The Penalty Factor
Penalties are converted at a rate of approximately 75 to 80 per cent in the Premier League. A designated penalty taker on a team that wins plenty of penalties has a reliable, fixture-independent route to goals. In FPL terms, a converted penalty is worth at least five points for a midfielder (goal plus likely bonus) — and this opportunity comes with minimal effort or risk compared to open-play goals.
The Bonus Point Connection
The FPL bonus points system rewards actions that are heavily correlated with set piece duties: key passes, big chances created, successful crosses, and goals scored. Set piece takers naturally accumulate these statistics, making them more likely to earn bonus points even in low-scoring matches.
Team-by-Team Set Piece Breakdown
Below is a detailed breakdown of set piece responsibilities for the top Premier League teams. Note that these duties can shift during the season due to injuries, transfers, and managerial decisions — always verify with the latest match data.
Arsenal
- Penalties: Bukayo Saka is Arsenal’s primary penalty taker, having established himself in this role with a strong conversion record.
- Corners (right side): Saka typically takes corners from the right side, delivering with his left foot into dangerous areas.
- Corners (left side): Declan Rice or the left-sided midfielder often takes corners from the left.
- Direct free kicks: Saka is the primary free kick taker in central and right-sided areas, with Martin Odegaard also involved when available.
FPL implications: Saka’s set piece monopoly makes him one of the most valuable FPL assets. His combination of open-play threat and set piece duties gives him an exceptionally high points ceiling and floor.
Manchester City
- Penalties: Erling Haaland is City’s undisputed penalty taker. His presence on the spot adds significant FPL value to an already elite striker.
- Corners: Kevin De Bruyne takes the majority of corners when fit. In his absence, Phil Foden or other midfielders share the duty.
- Direct free kicks: De Bruyne is the primary free kick taker in dangerous areas, though this shifts depending on availability.
FPL implications: Haaland’s penalty duties cement him as the standout FPL asset. De Bruyne’s set piece involvement, when fit, adds to his already substantial creative output.
Liverpool
- Penalties: Mohamed Salah is Liverpool’s designated penalty taker and one of the most reliable from the spot in Premier League history.
- Corners (right side): Trent Alexander-Arnold is the primary right-side corner taker, delivering dangerous balls from his exceptional right foot.
- Corners (left side): Andrew Robertson or the left-sided midfielder typically takes left-side corners.
- Direct free kicks: Alexander-Arnold and Salah share free kick duties depending on the position and angle.
FPL implications: Salah’s penalty duties combined with his open-play output make him arguably the best FPL captaincy option in most gameweeks. Alexander-Arnold’s corner duties give him a unique assist potential for a defender, making him a premium defensive pick.
Chelsea
- Penalties: Cole Palmer has established himself as Chelsea’s first-choice penalty taker with a composed technique from the spot.
- Corners: Palmer takes the majority of corners from both sides, giving him enormous assist potential.
- Direct free kicks: Palmer is also the primary free kick taker in attacking positions, further consolidating his set piece monopoly.
FPL implications: Palmer’s complete ownership of Chelsea’s set pieces makes him one of the highest-ceiling FPL midfielders. His involvement in virtually every dead-ball situation adds a reliable baseline to his open-play threat.
Tottenham Hotspur
- Penalties: Son Heung-min is Tottenham’s designated penalty taker, a role he has held for several seasons with a strong record.
- Corners: James Maddison typically takes the majority of corners, with his deliveries consistently finding dangerous areas.
- Direct free kicks: Maddison and Son share free kick duties depending on position, with Maddison favoured from central areas.
FPL implications: Maddison’s corner and free kick duties enhance his FPL appeal, particularly in matches where Spurs are expected to dominate territory. Son’s penalty responsibility gives him a floor that few FPL forwards can match.
Manchester United
- Penalties: Bruno Fernandes remains United’s designated penalty taker, a role that has been hugely valuable for his FPL returns over multiple seasons.
- Corners: Fernandes takes the majority of corners from both sides, adding to his assist potential.
- Direct free kicks: Fernandes is the primary free kick taker in all attacking areas, giving him a direct route to goal from dead-ball situations.
FPL implications: Fernandes’ total set piece control makes him the standout United FPL asset regardless of the team’s overall form. His penalty, corner, and free kick duties provide a consistent points floor even in difficult fixtures.
Newcastle United
- Penalties: Alexander Isak has taken penalties for Newcastle, though this can rotate depending on the situation and personnel on the pitch.
- Corners: Kieran Trippier is the primary corner taker from the right side, with left-side corners varying based on the available players.
- Direct free kicks: Trippier is also involved in free kick deliveries from wide areas, making him a set piece magnet.
FPL implications: Trippier’s set piece involvement elevates him as a defensive FPL pick. His corner and free kick deliveries give him consistent assist potential on top of Newcastle’s generally solid defensive record.
Aston Villa
- Penalties: Ollie Watkins is typically Villa’s first-choice penalty taker when on the pitch.
- Corners: Set piece duties at Villa are often shared, with players like Morgan Rogers or other creative midfielders involved.
- Direct free kicks: Free kick duties rotate depending on the position and available players.
FPL implications: Watkins’ penalty duties add to his appeal as a premium forward option, particularly during favourable fixture runs. Villa’s shared corner duties mean no single player gains an outsized set piece advantage.
Brighton and Hove Albion
- Penalties: Brighton’s penalty taker has rotated in recent seasons, so check the latest data for the current first choice.
- Corners: Pascal Gross or the designated creative midfielder typically handles corner duties, delivering consistently dangerous balls.
- Direct free kicks: Free kick duties are shared among Brighton’s technically gifted midfield group.
FPL implications: Brighton’s fluid system means set piece duties can shift. Monitor match data closely to identify who currently holds the primary roles, as this can significantly affect the FPL value of their midfield options.
West Ham United
- Penalties: Jarrod Bowen has been West Ham’s designated penalty taker and is reliable from the spot.
- Corners: Bowen and other attacking midfielders share corner duties, though Bowen typically takes the majority from at least one side.
- Direct free kicks: Free kick duties rotate depending on the position and available players.
FPL implications: Bowen’s penalty and partial corner duties make him the most appealing West Ham FPL asset. His involvement in set pieces provides a consistent baseline that complements his open-play contributions.
How to Use Set Piece Information for FPL Transfers
Understanding set piece duties is valuable, but you need to integrate this knowledge into your overall FPL strategy to benefit from it. Here is how.
Breaking Ties Between Similar Players
When choosing between two players at a similar price point with comparable fixtures, set piece duties should be the tiebreaker. A midfielder who takes corners and free kicks will consistently generate more assist opportunities than one who does not. Over a 10 to 15 gameweek hold, this difference can easily amount to 15 to 20 extra points.
Identifying Value in Defenders
Set piece-taking defenders are among the best value picks in FPL. A full-back who takes corners earns assist opportunities that most defenders never see. When a set piece-taking defender also plays for a team with a strong defensive record, you get the dual benefit of clean sheet points and attacking returns — a combination that can rival premium midfielders for value.
Monitoring Changes During the Season
Set piece duties are not fixed. Injuries, new signings, and tactical changes can shift responsibilities mid-season. A player who loses corner duties after a new signing arrives immediately becomes less valuable in FPL terms. Conversely, a player who gains penalty duties following a teammate’s injury becomes significantly more appealing. Stay updated by watching matches and checking set piece data after each gameweek.
Factoring in Team Style
The value of set piece duties varies by team. A team that dominates possession and earns many corners per match — like Manchester City or Arsenal — makes their corner taker more valuable than the corner taker for a team that earns fewer corners. Similarly, a team that frequently gets into the penalty area and wins penalties adds more value to their penalty taker than a side that rarely wins spot kicks.
Tracking Set Piece Data
To stay on top of set piece changes throughout the season, use these approaches:
- Watch the matches: There is no substitute for actually seeing who steps up for corners, free kicks, and penalties in real time.
- Check post-match statistics: Websites and tools that track corners taken, free kicks taken, and penalty takers give you hard data to work with.
- Follow pre-season and early season closely: New signings and managerial changes often lead to set piece reshuffles at the start of the season. The first few gameweeks reveal the new pecking order.
- Use FPL analytics tools: Platforms like FPL360 provide detailed player statistics that include set piece involvement, helping you make data-driven transfer decisions.
Final Thoughts on FPL Set Piece Takers
Set pieces are a hidden multiplier in FPL. While most managers focus on open-play statistics like expected goals and assists, the players who deliver corners, take free kicks, and step up for penalties have a structural advantage that boosts their FPL output week after week. By understanding which players hold these duties — and monitoring when those duties change — you can gain a meaningful edge over managers who overlook this crucial dimension of the game. Make set piece awareness a core part of your transfer strategy, and the extra points will follow.
