The 2026-27 Premier League season is expected to be heavily shaped by set-pieces.
As was the case last season. Arsenal were considered ‘set-piece kings’ en route to clinching a first title in 22 years, while Bruno Fernandes benefitted from dead-ball situations on his way to breaking the Premier League assist record.
Dominik Szoboszlai's stunning free-kick for Liverpool against the Gunners made the Goal of the Season shortlist and several teams got creative to gain an extra point, or three.
Such is the growing importance of set-pieces is that one of Chelsea’s new recruits this summer has been Austin McPhee after they triggered his release clause at Aston Villa.
So, ahead of the new campaign, Standard Sport has taken a closer look at the likely Premier League set-piece takers.
When it comes to penalties, Fernandes immediately springs to mind for Manchester United, while Arsenal have a few options in Bukayo Saka, Viktor Gyokeres and new signing Bruno Guimaraes.
Liverpool will have to appoint a new penalty taker after Mohamed Salah’s exit, with Alexander Isak and Szoboszlai the two candidates. Erling Haaland is as reliable from 12 yards as anyone, though Joao Pedro may have to take a few off Cole Palmer at Chelsea to be in contention for the golden boot award.
Igor Thiago was almost perfect from the spot in an impressive individual campaign for Brentford and Sandro Tonali could be the designated penalty taker for Tottenham following his £100million transfer.
Jean-Philippe Mateta is set to stay at Crystal Palace as should remain on penalty duty and it could be that Gonzalo Garcia takes over that role at Fulham from the departed Raul Jimenez, having inherited the Mexico international’s shirt number.
All 20 clubs can boast to having a handful of players capable of taking a mean set-piece, whether that be a corner or a free-kick. There are the usual suspects at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United, Manchester City and Spurs, but also some new faces such as 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
