All articles tagged with #set pieces
Hull City shocked Manchester United 2-0 on the Premier League’s opening day, with Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy scoring from set-pieces after Regan Slater set them up, as Hull’s disciplined defense and counter-attacking approach disrupted United’s game and delivered a famous early-season upset.
Bruno Fernandes blasted Manchester United for the 'same mistakes' that cost them a 2-0 defeat at Hull City, pointing to sloppy ball retention, a lack of pressing and two costly first-half set-piece goals; he urged more aggression and improved defense as United prepare for Ipswich Town.
Hull City beat Manchester United 2-0 to claim their first top-flight win over United since 1974, with both goals coming in the first half. The defeat sparked comments from pundits about United’s readiness and pressing, while Hull’s coach emphasized a plan around set-pieces. Rashford returned as a substitute for United, but manager Michael Carrick insisted the club won’t alter their course after the shock loss.
Brentford’s owners built a ‘machine’—a data-driven, process-focused club culture with specialist coaches for set pieces, sleep, and psychology, plus targeted recruitment—to turn a small-budget team into a Premier League contender. Their method—values-driven leadership, rigorous analytics (xG, player profiling), and a culture of consistency—allowed Brentford to punch above their weight, achieve a ninth-place finish and a near-Europa finish, and become difficult to copy, though their model remains a reminder that organizational alignment can matter as much as talent.
Liverpool’s 4-2 loss to Leeds in their US tour capped a strong first half with a disastrous second, exposing squad depth and physicality issues as well as set-piece weaknesses, prompting Iraola to weigh changes and potential signings as he evaluates the squad ahead of the transfer window.
Bosnia & Herzegovina, ranked No. 64, could upset the USMNT in the World Cup knockout thanks to a tall, physical lineup, dangerous young wingers Bajraktarević and Alajbegović, and a reliance on set-pieces led by Jovo Lukić. The USMNT are favorites, but must win aerial duels, blunt wide threats, and limit dead-ball opportunities to advance.
BBC Sport and Opta built alternative 2025-26 Premier League tables using metrics such as expected points (xPTS), home/away form, set-pieces, long shots and English goalscorers. The exercise highlights notable shifts: Sunderland would be relegated under xPTS, Aston Villa would finish bottom half, and Chelsea would reach the Champions League; Tottenham would excel away and could qualify for the Europa League in an away-only table, while Everton and Nottingham Forest overperformed on the road and Fulham boasted the strongest home form. Arsenal again feature among the top performers from set-pieces, illustrating how different metrics can reshape the season’s narrative and fuel debate over the value of “expected” data versus real points.
Arsenal ended a 22-year title drought by executing a long-term, data-driven rebuild led by Mikel Arteta and a restructured Football Intelligence unit; with a defined 'win window' (2023–27) and targeted signings built to peak together, the club’s culture, depth and set-piece craft helped them over the line after City drew, setting up sustained success beyond this season.
Arsenal finally lift the Premier League title under Mikel Arteta, ending a 984‑day wait at the top as they weathered late-season doubts and City defeats. The victory crowns a rebuild guided by Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta, reinforced by a strong defense, a squad built for resilience, and standout set-piece efficiency, signaling continued investment from the Kroenke era and a bright future for the club.
Liverpool’s defensive lapses and slow reactions to a short corner helped Aston Villa secure a 4-2 win, highlighting recurring vulnerabilities despite Liverpool scoring twice. With nine regulars missing, the lineup was stretched, and Arne Slot lamented the ongoing errors while signaling a needed summer reset as European qualification becomes harder with Brighton and Bournemouth still to play.
Arsenal’s feel for set-pieces stands out as one of this season’s defining trends, but corners have become a battleground of grappling and fouls across the Premier League. A big VAR decision ruled out West Ham’s goal after Pablo fouled Raya, and the article breaks down five potential fouls in the build-up while noting refereeing challenges. It also surveys proposed rule tweaks—such as banning attackers from the six-yard box before a corner or making the play live when the ball is placed—to reduce the chaos.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot says most Premier League matches are no longer a joy to watch due to a growing emphasis on set pieces, calling it the new reality of English top-flight football, while noting the league’s competitiveness and updates on Florian Wirtz’s injury absence and Jeremie Frimpong’s return ahead of a busy schedule.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot laments the Premier League's heavy emphasis on set-pieces, noting this season has a high share of goals from non-penalty set-pieces (about 27.5%). Arsenal lead with 16 corner goals, and Liverpool's first-half goals against West Ham came entirely from corners. Slot calls it the league's 'new reality,' not something he likes, but accepts it as part of modern football—and suggests it could influence youth coaching as well.
Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates to extend their Premier League lead to five points, courtesy of two well-worked corner goals from William Saliba and Jurrien Timber. Their 16 league goals from corners this season highlight a record-setting set-piece approach driven by coach Nicolas Jover, even as critics question the consistency of their open-play football. Manager Mikel Arteta defends the tactic as part of adapting to opponents, while Arsenal also push on in cup competitions with consistent results.
Chelsea's woes continued with a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal driven by their disciplinary issues and leaky defending on set-pieces, leaving them six points off the Premier League top four. The club have the most red cards in the PL this season and have conceded a high tally of set-piece goals, prompting Rosenior to stress the need to fix leadership and focus in a young squad.