Premier League Stats Review: Gameweek 7 Set Pieces

Premier League Stats Review: Gameweek 7 Set Pieces

This article is part of our Premier League Stats Review series.

We make a big deal about set pieces because they are good situations for players to get assists from chances created or goals from shots, and players who take a majority of their team's dead-ball opportunities are often prioritized in many fantasy formats. We generally expect assists from corners or most other free kicks, but we saw just this past weekend that goals can happen too, as James Ward-Prowse bagged two free-kick goals in addition to getting an assist off a free kick.

(Assist at 3:12 in the video, first goal at 3:59, second goal at 4:40)

Ward-Prowse is a bit of an anomaly when it comes to set pieces, as he's been responsible for 78.95 percent of Southampton's free kicks (defined as corners, free-kick crosses and free-kick shots), including 85 percent of their corners and 100 percent of their free-kick shots.

Through seven gameweeks (Aston Villa, Burnley, Manchester City and Manchester United have only played six matches), West Brom's Matheus Pereira leads the league with 86.11 percent of his team's free kicks, followed by Ward-Prowse and Youri Tielemans of Leicester City (71.43 percent). Those three are the only players in the Premier League above 56 percent, though Tielemans may not be staying there much longer, as he's generally getting opportunities that usually go to James Maddison when he's fit. Maddison didn't start Monday's match against Leeds, though he did take one corner off the bench, the same number as Tielemans, who trailed Marc Albrighton's three.

While only three players are above 56 percent, we have eight between 50.00 and 55.56, giving us 11 players who have taken at least half of their team's set pieces. Some interesting names not in that group include Trent Alexander-Arnold (45.16 percent), James Rodriguez (44.90 percent) and Willian (43.59 percent), though the latter two are more injury-related than anything else. These figures obviously benefit players who play all the time, so it's always important to review the team trends pages when really diving in. As a reminder, you can see all set-piece trends on any player page right below the game log:

Here's a breakdown of all 105 players who have taken a free kick for their teams, including their percentage of the team's free kicks and where they rank on their team in terms of set-piece share (all columns are sortable):

PlayerTeamPOSGPMINST

FK

CR

CRN

FK

S

TEAM

FKs

Player 

FKs

%

Share

Rank on

Team

Matheus PereiraWBAF/M7574712163363186.11%1
James Ward-ProwseSOUM763078175383078.95%1
Youri TielemansLEIM763075282493571.43%1
Bruno FernandesMUNM648067171452555.56%1
Aaron CresswellWHUD763079121402255.00%1
Kevin De BruyneMCIM538244195522853.85%1
Ashley WestwoodBRNM654066160412253.66%1
Pedro NetoWOLF/M757375170412253.66%1
Kalvin PhillipsLEEM545058211573052.63%1
Andrew RobertsonLIVD763074270623150.00%1
Jonjo ShelveyNEWM543255141402050.00%1
Andros TownsendCRYF/M761279160512549.02%1
Son Heung-MinTOTF/M755274180452248.89%1
Trent Alexander-ArnoldLIVD762975176622845.16%2
James RodriguezEVEF/M651163172492244.90%1
WillianARSF/M645261151391743.59%1
Ben ChilwellCHED436042150441738.64%1
Dwight McNeilBRNF/M65406690411536.59%2
Solomon MarchBHAM757475130511835.29%1
Tom CairneyFULM65406590411434.15%1
Ross BarkleyAVLM436044141571933.33%1
John LundstramSHUM753564100431432.56%1
Jarrod BowenWHUF/M759670130401332.50%2
Lucas DigneEVED65226671491428.57%2
Oliver NorwoodSHUM42172480431227.91%2
Luka MilivojevicCRYM62242392511427.45%2
Riyad MahrezMCIF/M543251121521426.92%2
Gylfi SigurdssonEVEM731733100491326.53%3
Conor HourihaneAVLM21382690571526.32%2
Nicolas PepeARSF62031091391025.64%2
Leandro TrossardBHAF/M75917490511325.49%2
Pascal GrossBHAM616211120511325.49%3
Joao MoutinhoWOLM73594460411024.39%2
Reece JamesCHED64535190441022.73%2
Luke ShawMUND65406370451022.22%2
Ivan CavaleiroFULF/M6432518041921.95%2
Joe BryanFULD5338444141921.95%3
Mateusz KlichLEEM76087480571221.05%2
Ryan BertrandSOUD7619753038821.05%2
Mason MountCHEM6450508144920.45%3
James MaddisonLEIM61981172491020.41%2
Ryan FraserNEWM5185117040820.00%2
Erik LamelaTOTM5188215345920.00%2
Ben OsbornSHUM5325426043818.60%3
John FleckSHUM3180207043716.28%4
Jack GrealishAVLF/M6540627057915.79%3
John McGinnAVLM6540627057915.79%4
Juan MataMUNM2147207045715.56%3
Daniel PodenceWOLF/M6446606041614.63%3
Giovani Lo CelsoTOTM4159105145613.33%3
Dani CeballosARSM6393405039512.82%3
Sean LongstaffNEWM4104105040512.50%3
Jack HarrisonLEEM6532606157712.28%3
Ademola LookmanFULF4292305041512.20%4
Eberechi EzeCRYM6228224051611.76%3
Ilkay GundoganMCIM3120106052611.54%3
Bukayo SakaARSM5421504039410.26%4
Matt RitchieNEWM/D169122040410.00%4
James McCarthyCRYM431940505159.80%4
Hakim ZiyechCHEF/M310010404449.09%4
Matthew PhillipsWBAM56302103638.33%2
Andriy YarmolenkoWHUF/M59700304037.50%3
Josh BrownhillBRNM654060034137.32%3
Neeskens KebanoFULM411612014137.32%5
Matt TargettAVLD654062115747.02%5
Pablo HernandezLEEM415520405747.02%4
Sergio ReguilonTOTD327031204536.67%4
Marc AlbrightonLEIM412511204936.12%3
Adam LallanaBHAM738450305135.88%4
Grady DianganaWBAF/M756970203625.56%3
Granit XhakaARSM641050023925.13%5
Ruben NevesWOLM746551014124.88%4
Sander BergeSHUM755461104324.65%5
Mason GreenwoodMUNF/M527630204524.44%4
Gareth BaleTOTF/M23800114524.44%5
Steven BergwijnTOTF/M415310204524.44%6
Alexis Mac AllisterBHAF/M34302005123.92%5
Phil FodenMCIM638740205223.85%4
Patrick BamfordLEEF758270205723.51%5
James MilnerLIVM56700206223.23%3
David LuizARSD532040013912.56%6
Jacob MurphyNEWM319620014012.50%5
Jeff HendrickNEWM761271004012.50%6
Miguel AlmironNEWM630230104012.50%7
Declan RiceWHUM763070014012.50%4
Mark NobleWHUM37110104012.50%5
Johann Berg GudmundssonBRNM317520014112.44%4
Aleksandar MitrovicFULF756760014112.44%6
VitinhaWOLM22100104112.44%5
Callum Hudson-OdoiCHEF/M415511004412.27%5
Kai HavertzCHEF/M755371004412.27%6
Marcos AlonsoCHEM/D322530014412.27%7
Timo WernerCHEF761070104412.27%8
Marcus RashfordMUNF/M654060104512.22%5
Ben DaviesTOTD638241004512.22%7
Cengiz UnderLEIF/M36901004912.04%4
Joel VeltmanBHAD322520105111.96%6
Lewis DunkBHAD544950015111.96%7
Patrick van AanholtCRYD210810015111.96%5
Bernardo SilvaMCIF/M427330105211.92%5
Raheem SterlingMCIF/M653260015211.92%6
Bertrand TraoreAVLF/M57110105711.75%6
RaphinhaLEEF21500105711.75%6
RodrigoLEEF/M632030015711.75%7
Roberto FirminoLIVF756470106211.61%4

Another basic way to look at this is to see who led their teams in free kicks in each match this season. It's a very basic strategy, but if you're curious to see how close certain players are to set-piece monopolies, it's a somewhat helpful tool.

Team

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

ArsenalWillianNicolas PepeNicolas PepeWillianWillianDani Ceballos, Bukayo SakaWillian
Aston Villa

-

Conor HourihaneConor Hourihane, John McGinnRoss BarkleyJohn McGinnRoss Barkley, Jack GrealishRoss Barkley
BrightonSolomon MarchLeandro TrossardPascal GrossSolomon March, Pascal Gross, Adam Lallana, Lewis DunkSolomon MarchPascal Gross, Leandro TrossardPascal Gross
Burnley

-

Ashley WestwoodAshley WestwoodAshley Westwood, Dwight McNeilDwight McNeilAshley Westwood, Dwight McNeilAshley Westwood
ChelseaReece JamesJorginho, Kai HavertzReece JamesBen ChilwellBen ChilwellBen ChilwellMason Mount
Crystal PalaceJames McCarthyAndros TownsendAndros TownsendAndros TownsendAndros TownsendLuka MilivojevicLuka Milivojevic
EvertonLucas DigneLucas DigneJames RodriguezJames RodriguezJames RodriguezGylfi SigurdssonGylfi Sigurdsson
FulhamJoe BryanJoe BryanIvan CavaleiroJoe BryanIvan CavaleiroTom CairneyTom Cairney, Ademola Lookman
LeedsKalvin PhillipsKalvin PhillipsKalvin PhillipsKalvin PhillipsKalvin PhillipsMateusz KlichMateusz Klich, Jack Harrison
Leicester CityYouri TielemansYouri TielemansYouri Tielemans, Jamie VardyYouri TielemansYouri TielemansJames MaddisonMarc Albrighton
LiverpoolAndrew RobertsonAndrew Robertson, Trent Alexander-ArnoldAndrew RobertsonAndrew RobertsonTrent Alexander-ArnoldTrent Alexander-ArnoldAndrew Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah
Manchester City

-

Kevin De BruyneRiyad MahrezKevin De BruyneRiyad MahrezIlkay GundoganKevin De Bruyne
Manchester United

-

Bruno FernandesBruno FernandesLuke ShawBruno FernandesJuan MataBruno Fernandes, Luke Shaw
NewcastleJonjo ShelveyJonjo ShelveyMatt RitchieJonjo ShelveyJonjo ShelveyRyan FraserSean Longstaff
Sheffield UnitedOliver NorwoodJohn LundstramBen OsbornJohn Lundstram, John FleckOliver NorwoodJohn LundstramSander Berge
SouthamptonJames Ward-ProwseJames Ward-ProwseRyan BertrandJames Ward-ProwseJames Ward-ProwseJames Ward-ProwseJames Ward-Prowse
TottenhamSon Heung-MinSon Heung-MinGiovani Lo CelsoSon Heung-Min, Erik LamelaSon Heung-Min, Gareth BaleSon Heung-MinSon Heung-Min, Erik Lamela
West HamAaron Cresswell, Jarrod Bowen, Andriy YarmolenkoAaron Cresswell, Jarrod BowenAaron CresswellAaron Cresswell, Jarrod BowenAaron CresswellAaron CresswellAaron Cresswell
West BromMatheus PereiraMatheus PereiraMatheus PereiraMatheus PereiraMatheus PereiraMatheus PereiraMatheus Pereira, Matthew Phillips
WolverhamptonJoao MoutinhoDaniel PodencePedro NetoPedro Neto, Joao MoutinhoPedro NetoPedro NetoPedro Neto

It was also a busy week in terms of penalties, as we had six attempts and were converted. We saw some usual suspects, such as Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Callum Wilson, but two surprises were Tielemens and Ollie Watkins. Tielemans benefited from a late penalty in Monday's match against Leeds, as Jamie Vardy had been subbed off, but there was some surprise that Maddison didn't get to take it after he drew the penalty. Meanwhile, Watkins got Aston Villa's first attempt this season, a bit of a surprise given Jack Grealish was on the pitch. Then again, Grealish missed his only opportunity last season, so maybe Watkins shouldn't be a total surprise.

Tielemans' penalty against Leeds was their fourth conceded goal from the spot this season, joining Brighton and Manchester United at the top of league in the category, though penalties are such variant actions that it's tough to target teams specifically because they have given some away.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Andrew M. Laird plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: kingmorland, DraftKings: andrewmlaird, Yahoo: Lairdinho.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew M. Laird
Andrew is a former RotoWire contributor. He was the 2017 and 2018 FSWA Soccer Writer of the Year. He is a nine-time FSWA award finalist, including twice for Football Writer of the Year.
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