Liverpool have been the best team in the Premier League from set pieces, the statistics show, with the Reds having bagged 8 goals from corners or free-kicks already this season, after just 11 games gone.
West Brom follow the Merseysiders in close pursuit, with 6 goals from set pieces, with Arsenal, Hull City and Stoke City making up the best of the rest. Sunderland are the only team in the Premier League yet to find the back of the net from a set piece situation, although David Moyes’ side have bagged 3 times from the penalty spot, the joint second most in the division.
Tottenham and Watford are the next most toothless teams in the top flight, when it comes to set pieces, the duo having scored only once from set pieces each, meaning both have scored as many goals due to the opposition scoring own goals as they have from set pieces so far this season.
The vast majority of set piece goals this season have come from corners. Only 5 Premier League teams have scored from a direct free kick this season, namely Everton, Stoke, Hull, Liverpool and Manchester City.
Set piece stats account for corners, direct free-kicks, indirect free-kicks and throw-ins, but do not account for penalties. If one were to factor in goals from 10 yards to the set piece statistics, Liverpool would still lead the way, Arsenal would draw level with West Brom and Sunderland would leapfrog Watford down at the bottom.
The statistics show just how important set plays are in the modern game. West Brom and Hull City have scored 6 and 5 goals from set pieces respectively, more goals than each have scored from open play (4).
Manchester City, conversely, have scored just 3 goals from set pieces, less than both West Brom and Hull, but Pep Guardiola’s side have bagged 15 goals from open play in the Premier League, the joint third most in the division.
Statistics show that Man City are very unusual in that respect though, having scored just 12% of their goals from set pieces, given over 30% of all goals have come from set pieces over recent Premier League seasons.
That percentage is way down this season though, with roughly 24% of all successful strikes having been the result of a set piece so far this term.