Premier League goals conceded from set-pieces stats in 23/24 [ranked]

The Premier League is typically decided on fine margins, with set-pieces often scrutinised by coaches as one of the most important situations in any game.

Some teams have scored up to 60% of their goals from set-piece situations this season reinforcing the importance of dead ball situations.

We've already looked at the best offensive set-piece teams in the Premier League in 2023/24, and now we take a look at the worst defensive set-piece teams.

Defending set-pieces effectively can be the difference between winning the Premier League title, qualifying for the Champions League, and avoiding relegation.

We take a look at the most goals conceded this season by set-pieces this season, ranked from the best (fewest goals conceded) to the worst (most goals conceded.

Which Premier League teams have conceded the most and the fewest from set-pieces in the 2023/2024 season so far?

20. Manchester City

Set-piece goals conceded: 3 goals (fewest goals conceded from set-pieces)

Manchester City have conceded 3 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the best defensive team when it comes to defending set-pieces.

Manchester City have been the best defensive set-piece team in the Premier League this season. Pep Guardiola has specialised set-piece coaches and analysts who dedicate a large part of their training towards practising set-piece situations and responding to the threats posed by the opposition. Moreover, Pep Guardiola more than most managers understands the importance of recruiting for height and physicality, with the Spaniard often opting to play four centre-backs in the back four.

19. Arsenal

Set-piece goals conceded: 7 goals

Arsenal have conceded 7 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the second-best defensive team when it comes to defending set-pieces.

Arsenal under Mikel Arteta have become defensively solid across the pitch. But especially when analysing their set-piece statistics, they have impressed this season. Whilst they have conceded more set-piece goals this season when compared to last season, they are still the second-best in the Premier League in 2023/24. Arsenal have impressed with their blend of zonal and man marking at set-pieces, which has made the defence a fortress during dead-ball situations.

18. Fulham

Set-piece goals conceded: 8 goals

Fulham have conceded 8 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the third-best defensive team when it comes to defending set-pieces.

A surprising inclusion as the second-best set-piece team in the Premier League so far this season is Marco Silva's Fulham. Fulham have been impressive at the back, specifically from set-pieces, demonstrating their ability to know their roles during corners and free-kick situations.

17. West Ham United

Set-piece goals conceded: 8 goals

West Ham have conceded 8 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the fourth-best defensive team when it comes to defending set-pieces.

David Moyes is no stranger to set-piece defending, with the former Everton manager demonstrating his genius defensive mind throughout his impressive career, which cultivated in West Ham winning the Europa Conference League last season. This season, West Ham have managed to maintain their impressive defensive record during set-pieces, despite losing their captain, Declan Rice, to Arsenal.

16. Brentford

Set-piece goals conceded: 9 goals

Brentford have conceded 8 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the fifth-best defensive team when it comes to defending set-pieces.

Brentford have been ahead of the curve when it comes to set-piece training, coaching, and analysis for some time. The club, owned by gambling and data guru Matthew Benham, have invested heavily in their set-piece coaching department. They have been so successful in fact, that Chelsea have now paid an estimated £1 million in compensation to bring their set-piece coach, Bernardo Cueva, to Stamford Bridge.

15. Wolves

Set-piece goals conceded: 10 goals

Wolves have conceded 10 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the seventh-best defensive team when it comes to defending set-pieces.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are not just sitting in mid-table in the overall Premier League 2023/24 standings, but they also rank as a mid-table team in terms of goals conceded from set-pieces. Gary O'Neil has worked wonders since joining the relegation-threatened club, despite their financial difficulties. The young English manager has made them incredibly tough to play and score against, with set-pieces being no different.

14. Brighton & Hove Albion

Set-piece goals conceded: 10 goals

Brighton have conceded 10 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the eighth-best defensive team when it comes to defending set-pieces.

Brighton are statistically average this season when it comes to the number of goals conceded from set-pieces. Roberto De Zerbi has been criticised in the past for some of his set-piece metrics, however, this season Brighton have been fairly decent at preventing goals from dead-ball situations.

13. Liverpool

Set-piece goals conceded: 10 goals

Liverpool have conceded 10 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the ninth-best defensive team when it comes to defending set-pieces.

Jürgen Klopp's last season in charge at Anfield has had its highs and its lows. Liverpool have looked defensively fragile, despite scoring an abundance of goals. They have conceded some very poor goals from corners and free-kicks compared to their usual high standards. Arne Slot, Liverpool's new manager, will have to improve Liverpool's output from set-pieces, both attacking-wise and defensively if they are to progress as a side.

12. Crystal Palace

Set-piece goals conceded: 10 goals

Crystal Palace have conceded 10 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the tenth-best defensive team when it comes to defending set-pieces.

Under the leadership of Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace have improved when it comes to set-piece goals conceded. Glasner's teams are typically hard to play against, with the Austrian manager demanding perfection during set-piece situations. This season sees Crystal Palace sitting on par with the rest of the Premier League teams, however next season, Glasner will undoubtedly reduce the amount of goals conceded from dead-ball situations in the Premier League.

11. Bournemouth

Set-piece goals conceded: 10 goals

Bournemouth have conceded 10 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the ninth-worst defensive team when it comes to set-pieces.

Bournemouth have improved immensely under Andoni Iraola, with the Basque-born manager implementing his style of play at the South Coast club. But Bournemouth have struggled with set-pieces this season, and have conceded a quarter of their goals from dead-ball situations. Iraola will need to improve these set-piece stats if Bournemouth want to rise up the table in the next Premier League season.

10. Chelsea

Set-piece goals conceded: 11 goals

Chelsea have conceded 11 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the tenth-worst defensive team when it comes to defending set-pieces.

Chelsea under Mauricio Pochettino have been nothing but inconsistent all season, with the team putting in performances that wouldn't look out of place for a Pep Guardiola side, and then performing like a relegation outfit. Their set-piece stats, as well as their Premier League position, reflect exactly that. The London club have conceded 10 goals all season from set-pieces, putting them mid-table.

9. Everton

Set-piece goals conceded: 11 goals

Everton have conceded 11 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the eighth-worst defensive team when it comes to set-pieces.

Set-piece specialists when it comes to attacking, Everton are surprisingly disappointing when it comes to goals conceded from corners and free-kicks. Often caused by miscommunication, Everton at times this Premier League season have looked lost when defending set-pieces. A trait which goes against Sean Dyche's managerial values and philosophies, Everton will need to improve in defensive set-piece scenarios if they are to avoid yet another relegation battle.

8. Newcastle United

Set-piece goals conceded: 12 goals

Newcastle have conceded 12 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the sixth-best defensive team when it comes to defending set-pieces.

Newcastle United have been inconsistent across the board this season, however their set-piece acumen has been respectable despite leaking goals in other areas of the pitch. Led by assistant manager Jason Tindall, Newcastle's height, physicality, and ingenuity have kept out many goals from corners and free-kicks this season, despite not having their number one goalkeeper Nick Pope available for the majority of 2023/24.

7. Manchester United

Set-piece goals conceded: 14 goals

Manchester United have conceded 14 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the seventh-worst defensive team when it comes to set-pieces.

Erik Ten Hag's Manchester United, like so many clubs this season, have been consistently inconsistent. The Manchester club have conceded a fifth of their goals against from set-pieces, and they will need to add defensive discipline to their summer recruitment list if they are to challenge for the Champions League under the footballing leadership of new investors INEOS.

6. Tottenham Hotspur

Set-piece goals conceded: 14 goals

Spurs have conceded 14 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the sixth-worst defensive team when it comes to set-pieces.

Spurs are definitely in a transition phase, with the London club initially starting well under Ange Postecoglou. However, in recent months, injuries and poor form have contributed to Tottenham Hotspur conceding more from set-piece situations than they were at the beginning of the Premier League 2023/24 season. Ange Postecoglou decided to sack Tottenham's set-piece coach at the beginning of the season, who was responsible for delivering defensive and offensive structure to set-pieces. It's looking more and more likely that this was a poor decision due to Spurs' lack of cohesion and lack of clarity in defensive roles during set-pieces.

5. Aston Villa

Set-piece goals conceded: 16 goals

Aston Villa have conceded 16 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the fifth-worst defensive team when it comes to set-pieces. Aston Villa have been defensively impressive this season, and have caught opponents offside more than any other team. However, under the leadership of Unai Emery, who is set to remain at Aston Villa until at least 2027, the midlands club have been disappointing when defending set-piece situations this season. Possibly caused by extensive injuries to their backline, including losing Tyrone Mings to a severe ACL injury, Aston Villa certainly have work to do on the training ground to stop leaking unnecessary goals from set-pieces.

4. Burnley

Set-piece goals conceded: 16 goals

Burnley have conceded 16 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the third-worst defensive team when it comes to set-pieces.

Burnley, like fellow newly-promoted sides Luton and Sheffield, have struggled to adapt to the demands of the Premier League. Set-pieces are more fine-tuned in the Premier League, with clubs always looking for small margins to gain an advantage over opponents. Burnley have conceded far too many from set-pieces this season, which they will need to improve if and when they are to come back up to the Premier League in the future.

3. Sheffield United

Set-piece goals conceded: 17 goals

Sheffield United have conceded 17 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the fourth-worst defensive team when it comes to set-pieces.

Sheffield United became the first club to be relegated from the Premier League in 2023/24. Their poor form and leaky defence have contributed to the Blades conceding the most goals in a single 38-game Premier League season in history. Chris Wilder's team could be on to concede over 100 goals this season, with set-piece goals contributing dramatically to their unwanted record.

2. Luton Town

Set-piece goals conceded: 19 goals

Luton Town have conceded 19 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the second-worst defensive team when it comes to set-pieces.

A similar story to Burnely, Luton Town have been naive when defending set-pieces. In the Championship, errors aren't often penalised, however in the Premier League, mistakes mean goals. Rob Edwards' side has to learn how to effectively defend all set-piece situations if they want to be taken seriously as a regular Premier League outfit.

1. Nottingham Forest

Set-piece goals conceded: 22 goals (most goals conceded from set-pieces)

Nottingham Forest have conceded 22 goals from set-piece situations so far this season, making them the worst defensive team when it comes to set-pieces.

Nottingham Forest fans will know all too well how bad their team have been this Premier League season at defending set-pieces. At one point, fans would have been happier conceding a penalty as opposed to a set-piece due to the regularity that the Nottingham-based club were conceding from them.

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