We take a look back out our favourite corner routines from the Premier League season and break them down to see why they succeeded. Want to try these out with your team? Download a free print quality pdf version of these ten routines from the link at the bottom of the article!
Man City showed a lot more variety from set plays during the 2023-24 season. Against Luton, they clearly targeted the vacant space on the edge of the box, with De Bruyne nearly scoring from a similar routine to that shown below earlier in the game.
11 Doku and 17 De Bruyne came short which helped open up the passing lane to the edge of the box
27 Nunes came towards the ball to provide a decoy short option
The taker; 19. Alvarez, played a 1-2 with 11 Doku, before playing a quick ball to 8 Kovačić on the edge, who shot first time
The attackers and defenders in the box naturally obscured the Gks view
3 Dias pealed towards the edge of the box to protect against a possible counter attack
Arsenal scored the most set play goals during the 2023-24 Premier League season (20). This free kick was Arsenal’s second goal in a 6-0 victory at the Olympic Stadium.
19 Havertz, 6 Gabriel, 4 White and 2 Saliba started in a line beyond West Ham’s defensive line
All four attackers checked back onside as the free kick was taken
The four players acted as reverse blockers against 3 West Ham defenders and subsequently overload them in the zone highlighted
41 Rice delivered a whipped delivery with pace into the space at the front post for 6 Gabriel to score with a flicked header
Newcastle United were one of the most creative teams from set plays during the 2023-24 Premier League season and this goal against Nottingham Forest was great example of this. They also scored from the same routine against Brentford last season.
2 Trippier made a late run from deep towards the corner of the box
10 Gordon blocked the defender attempting to close down the pass
2 Trippier delivered a first time cross to the back post
39 Bruno made a late run from the edge to the space at the back post
67 Miley blocked off the zonal marker in this area
Everton were one of the most direct teams from set plays during the 2023-24 season and they had great success in multiple games from this routine. The same routine was also used regularly by Sean Dyche’s Burnley team.
5 Keane and 16 Doucoure blocked off Burnley’s two zonal markers at the back post
6 Tarkowski made a decoy run across the front post
9 Calvert-Lewis & 8 Onana made powerful runs towards the back post
7 McNeil whipped in a delivery to the space at the back post
8 Onana beat the GK to the ball to power home the header
This particular set play followed a wide FK, hence 17 Romero being positioned in the box. Although this goal may not have been rehearsed, Tottenham showed great initiative from this situation and adopted the ‘Fake Take’, a tactic that a few teams deployed during the 2023-24 Premier League season.
21 Kulusevski grabbed the ball to take the throw-in but then quickly threw the ball to 12 Royal to take the throw-in
22 Johnson made a decoy run into the channel and subsequently dragged a defender out of position
10 Maddison made an incisive forward run towards the space vacated by the defender that followed 22 Johnson
10 Maddison let the ball run across his body and looped a first time cross to 17 Royal at the back post, who headed home
The moment Manchester City scored from this routine, Pep went over to congratulate his coach; Carlos Vicens, who oversees Manchester City’s set plays. A clear indication that this routine had been meticulously planned and perfectly executed.
47 Foden’s position wide on right dragged a Burnley defender out of the position from the front of the defensive line
17 De Bruyne shaped to deliver the ball into the box, with 17 Rodri and 24 Gvardiol also signalling to De Bruyne
17 De Bruyne played a perfectly weighted disguised pass through the gap
19 Álvarez made a sudden movement behind the defender to run onto the pass and shoot into the far corner
Arsenal scored two nearly identical goals from corners in this game against Crystal Palace. Arsenal had great success from corners during the 2023-24 Premier League season and they regularly used this routine to great effect.
9 Jesus and 2 Saliba made decoy runs across the front post
4 White blocked the GK, as well as his marker in the centre of the goal
19 Trossard showed great determination and strength to block Palace’s main zonal marker in the centre of the 6-yard box
These decoys runs and blockers freed up space at the back post for 6 Gabriel and 29 Havertz to attack
6 Gabriel out jumped his marker and headed the ball into the net from 3 yards
This routine from Newcastle United was quite unique as it is unusual to see a worked routine involving so many passes, especially from this position. Newcastle United also attempted a similar routine from a corner in the following game.
24 Almiron stayed wide on the right and in doing so dragged a defender out of the space at the front of the defensive line.
67 Miley made a decoy run to occupy a defender.
2 Trippier played the ball short to 39 Bruno, and through 7 Joelinton the ball was played to 10 Gordon out wide on the left.
10 Gordon drove inside and delivered an in-swinging cross to the back post.
6 Lascelles made a run to the front post (in relation to the FK) as soon as the FK was played short and headed home 10 Gordon’s cross.67 Miley and 24 Almiron also attacked the back post space.
Aston Villa showed great creativity from set plays during the 23-24 season under the guidance of set play coach; Austin MacPhee. This set play came at a time when Manchester United’s goalkeeper; Onana was under heavy scrutiny and this unusual set up from Aston Villa clearly caused the goalkeeper difficulty.
41 Ramsey made an early run into the box from the edge and in doing so ran across Onana’s line of sight to the ball. 31 Bailey started in an unorthodox position behind Onana and ran to the edge of the box as the FK was taken.
17 Lenglet & 4 Konsa started offside and worked reverse blocks on their opponents before attacking the ball.
11 Watkins and 3 Carlos (back post) and 32 Dendoncker (front post) also made runs into the 6 yard box.
7 McGiinn’s in-swinging delivery evaded everyone and went straight into the far corner.
This routine was a crucial goal for Manchester City in their quest for the title. Gary Neville stated on commentary that “coaches all around the country will be looking in admiration at this set play”.
16 Rodri made a decoy run across the front post to attract Liverpool’s zonal marker in this space.
6 Ake worked a reverse block on the zonal marker positioned nearest the goal at the front post.
This block created space for 5 Stones to run across the front post and direct 17 De Bruyne’s low delivery into the back of the net.
9 Haaland attacked the back post to pick up any potential second balls / rebounds.
Download these 10 plays as a print file here:
Article by Billy Coulston, site founder and former first team analyst with Newcastle United.
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