When open play becomes predictable and margins tighten, a clever corner, a rehearsed free kick or a long throw can decide matches. This season those moments look more important than usual, and the difference between the top eight and the chasing pack may well come down to how well clubs exploit dead ball situations.

Why set pieces are suddenly more valuable

Data from the opening months of 2025–26 show a clear shift: set-piece goals account for a larger share of total goals than in recent seasons. Opta numbers indicate that around a quarter of goals so far this campaign have come from corners, free kicks or throw-ins. That is a clear signal to managers and directors of football that prioritising dead-ball threat is a cost effective way to pick up points.

Matchday decisions and betting markets

Set pieces (corners, throw-ins, free kicks) are major markets on online sportsbooks such as NetBet (sport.netbet.ie/). Bettors and analysts are both scanning team sheets and set-piece taker lists to predict outcomes and exploit inefficiencies. That market attention mirrors coaching attention; what is being priced by bettors is often what coaches are prioritising on the training ground.

Spurs and the new emphasis on set pieces

Tottenham’s early form under Thomas Frank has underscored the potential the team have this season. Frank told The Athletic in the summer about his belief in set pieces and said Spurs needed to improve their defensive work from last season. If they can be anywhere near as successful from set pieces as Frank’s Brentford side were, they’ll have a good platform to vastly improve on their 2024-2025 bottom half finish.

How clubs are making gains from set pieces

Clubs are investing in specialist coaches, analytics and practice time to turn set plays into repeatable outcomes. Teams such as Brentford and Bournemouth have reintroduced long throws as a deliberate tactic; the returns have been noticeable and the technique has spread across the league. The Guardian’s recent coverage points to a measurable rise in long throws per game and early evidence of goals arising from that revival. Coaches are looking not just for a towering header but for second phase chances and chaos in the box.

Tactical economy and squad construction

Not every club can afford elite wingers or a prolific striker; set pieces let teams level up using the players they already have. Tall centre halves, a dominant six foot three forward, a left footed corner specialist and clever blocking runs cost considerably less in the transfer market but can yield a disproportionate number of goals. That makes set pieces particularly valuable for midtable teams aiming to qualify for European football.

What separates the consistently successful sides

The teams that will finish in the top eight are likely to be those that combine a sound open play structure with a measurable advantage from set pieces. The obvious examples are clubs that convert at a higher rate and concede fewer from dead balls because they practise defensive organisation for corners, free kicks and throws.

Small margins become season defining

A single point here or there often separates European qualification from midtable anonymity. Over 38 games, an extra three or four goals from set pieces can translate into a few additional wins or draws. That is why directors of football are hiring analysts whose sole remit is set-piece optimisation, and why some head coaches insist on 10 to 15 minutes of daily practice on corners and free kicks. The effect is cumulative: teams that can both create and defend dead-ball situations reduce variance and convert marginal advantages into league position gains.

What to watch for the rest of the season

Expect clubs to adapt quickly. If a team is conceding soft corners or leaving the near post unguarded, odds are opponents will exploit it. Set pieces won’t replace the fundamentals of good football; they rarely win titles on their own. But in a league as tight and unpredictable as the Premier League, marginal gains matter. For clubs outside the established elite, mastering dead-ball situations is a realistic and measurable way to close the gap.