Premier League Set-Piece Takers 2026/27: Every Club's Penalties, Corners and Free Kicks

“Who is on penalties now?”

It is one of the most common questions in every FPL mini league chat. The answer can change after an injury, transfer, missed penalty or new manager arrives.

This guide covers the expected penalty, corner and free-kick takers for all 20 Premier League clubs in 2026/27. We have cross-checked current FPL data and specialist set-piece guides, including FPL Pilot, Fantasy Football Fix, RotoWire, Onside and AllAboutFPL.

Roles can still change. Check team news and recent match evidence before every deadline.

Why set pieces matter in FPL

Penalties give attackers a clear route to goals. Corners and free kicks can create assists, chances and occasional goals for defenders and midfielders.

Set pieces should not decide every transfer. Minutes, form, fixtures and position still matter more. However, a reliable role can improve a player’s value when two options look similar.

It can also uncover budget picks. A defender who takes corners may offer more attacking potential than a similar-priced defender with no set-piece involvement.

Premier League set-piece takers 2026/27

The names below show the current order of preference. Players in brackets are the main backups or alternatives.

The clearest set-piece picks

Some players have several routes to points.

Bruno Fernandes remains the strongest all-round example. He is Manchester United’s main penalty taker and leads most of the club’s corner and free-kick work. His role supports both captaincy decisions and regular starting potential.

Cole Palmer has the clearest penalty role at Chelsea. Reece James adds set-piece value from corners and free kicks, although his minutes must always be checked.

Declan Rice takes a large share of Arsenal’s corners and direct free kicks. Saka remains the main penalty taker and offers attacking returns from open play as well.

Pascal Groß is important for Brighton. He is now the leading penalty option after Danny Welbeck’s departure and also takes corners. Maxim De Cuyper is worth watching as a budget defender with direct free-kick involvement.

Rayan Cherki has quickly become Manchester City’s main set-piece option outside penalties. Haaland remains the clear penalty choice.

Budget players who offer set-piece involvement

Set pieces can help you find cheaper players with attacking potential. They still need regular starts, so do not choose a player only because they take corners.

• Maxim De Cuyper: Brighton defender with corner and direct free-kick involvement.
• Lewis Hall: Newcastle defender involved in corners and free kicks.
• Matty Cash: Aston Villa defender listed as the main corner taker.
• James Garner: Everton midfielder and current corner and free-kick option.
• Matt Grimes: Coventry midfielder involved in corners and penalties as a backup.
• Pedro Porro: Tottenham defender with responsibility for corners and direct free kicks.
• Declan Rice: More expensive than a budget pick, but his set-piece role adds to his midfield appeal.

Set-piece situations to monitor

Everton penalties

Iliman Ndiaye was previously involved in the penalty discussion but left Everton for Manchester City on deadline day. That leaves the role unsettled.

Lewis Barry, Beto and James Garner are the main candidates. We would not treat any one player as a confirmed penalty pick until match evidence gives us a clearer answer.

Fulham penalties

Fulham also have a genuine contest. Antonee Robinson took three penalties from three attempts last season according to one FPL tracker. New striker García and Alex Iwobi are also candidates.

This is a situation where you should avoid paying a premium purely for penalty assumptions.

Liverpool penalties

Dominik Szoboszlai is the current primary choice. The FPL designation and recent match evidence support him, including the penalty he took against Newcastle ahead of Alexander Isak.

Isak remains the main backup. The situation could still change if Liverpool rotate their penalty taker, so check line-ups and post-match reports.

Newcastle penalties

Newcastle’s hierarchy changed after major departures, including Bruno Guimarães. Woltemade is currently listed first, with Osula as the main alternative.

Alexander Isak should not be assumed to retain the Newcastle role after his move to Liverpool.

Bournemouth penalties

Justin Kluivert moves into the leading position after Kroupi’s injury. Kroupi Jr and Marcus Tavernier remain part of the wider discussion.

Kluivert’s value depends on starts, so check the FPL injury news before making a transfer.

Tottenham’s changing roles

Tottenham’s set pieces remain less settled under Roberto De Zerbi. Solanke is the leading penalty option, while Porro is the clearest name for corners and direct free kicks.

Maddison, Tonali, Kudus and Robertson can all share duties. Xavi Simons’ injury adds another reason to review this situation regularly.

How to use set-piece data before the deadline

Start with the player’s minutes. A set-piece taker who may not start is rarely a safe FPL pick.

Then check:

1. Penalty certainty: Is the player clearly first choice, or is the role shared?
2. Set-piece volume: Does the player take most corners and free kicks, or only occasional deliveries?
3. Fixture quality: Use the Fixture Difficulty Ticker to compare the next few matches.
4. Team rating: Run your squad through Rate My Team before deciding whether a set-piece player improves your starting XI.
5. Transfer impact: Use AI Transfers to compare a set-piece option with other realistic moves.
6. Price movement: Check Price Change Predictions if a change in penalty duty could affect ownership and value.
7. Captaincy: Set pieces can strengthen a captain case, but fixtures, minutes and form still matter. Check your FPL Gameweek Tips before making the final call.

A player who takes penalties may be more useful for captaincy. A corner-taking defender may be better as a steady starter or third substitute. The best choice depends on your squad and the fixtures ahead.

Final deadline checklist

Before you confirm your team:

• Check the latest injury and team news.
• Confirm whether a set-piece taker is expected to start.
• Review penalties separately from corners and free kicks.
• Avoid treating a projected backup as a guaranteed starter.
• Compare set-piece value with fixtures and recent minutes.
• Use the Gameweek Recap to review what changed last week.
• Check your captain and vice-captain.
• Look at your Mini League Tracker before taking a high-risk differential.

Set pieces can give you useful information when two FPL options look close. They cannot remove all uncertainty. Use them alongside team news, fixtures, minutes and form, then make the decision that best fits your squad.