FPL Penalty & Set-Piece Takers 2026/27: All 20 Clubs

Introduction

The official FPL Set-Piece Takers page is the starting point for this guide, but it is not a guarantee. The Scout says its expected lists combine last-season matches, pre-season friendlies, previous-club roles and predicted new-club duties, then change as evidence arrives. That is why this article separates the official expected list from FPL Assistant confidence.

The most useful set-piece pick is not always the player listed first. A penalty taker who rarely starts can be a worse FPL asset than a nailed midfielder who takes corners. A new signing may have an excellent old-club record without having taken a competitive kick for his new team. A friendly penalty may have been taken because the normal taker was not on the pitch.

This guide covers all 20 clubs in the live 2026/27 FPL feed. Prices, positions, minutes and starts are from the official bootstrap feed checked on 7 August 2026. The set-piece names are the current official FPL expected lists; confidence and FPL relevance are editorial judgements, not official FPL ratings.

Quick answer

How to read confidence

Confidence applies to the penalty hierarchy, unless the table says otherwise:

• Very high: first-choice role is strongly supported by current evidence, continuity and a secure role.
• High: the leading name is the clearest current candidate, but a credible alternative or new-manager factor remains.
• Medium: the official order is useful, but minutes, transfers, new roles or limited current evidence make the hierarchy vulnerable.
• Low: mainly an inference from a previous club, a promoted-team role or a small pre-season sample.
• Uncertain: there is not enough current evidence to call a first choice.

The official page's order is not treated as a confirmed order when it conflicts with minutes or obvious role change. “Backup” means the next credible candidate in the current expected list, not a guaranteed replacement. The official FPL player feed does not publish a complete historical penalty-taken/converted table, so this guide does not invent exact 2025/26 penalty totals where they cannot be verified.

Complete 20-club penalty table

Complete direct-free-kick and corner table

The official FPL page combines corners and indirect free kicks rather than splitting left and right delivery. Where the current evidence does not identify a side, this guide keeps the combined official list instead of inventing a left/right assignment.

Last checked: 15 August 2026

Arsenal Penalty Taker 2026/27

Bukayo Saka is currently Arsenal's expected first-choice penalty taker, with Viktor Gyökeres and Martin Ødegaard next in the projected order.

Declan Rice and Saka are the main expected direct free-kick options, while Rice, Saka, Noni Madueke and Ødegaard are among the leading corner and indirect-free-kick takers.

FPL view: Saka's potential combination of penalties and other dead-ball involvement remains an important part of his attacking appeal.

Aston Villa Penalty Taker 2026/27

Emiliano Buendía currently heads Aston Villa's expected penalty hierarchy, with Ollie Watkins the main alternative.

Buendía is also the clearest expected direct free-kick option, while Matty Cash and Leon Bailey feature among Villa's current corner options.

FPL view: This is a hierarchy worth monitoring because penalty responsibility would materially improve the appeal of the player who establishes the role.

Bournemouth Penalty Taker 2026/27

Justin Kluivert currently leads Bournemouth's expected penalty hierarchy, followed by Junior Kroupi and Marcus Tavernier.

Tavernier, Kluivert and several teammates feature across Bournemouth's expected free-kick duties, while Tavernier is also prominent on corners.

FPL view: Tavernier's broader dead-ball involvement gives him routes to attacking returns even when he is not first in the penalty queue.

Brentford Penalty Taker 2026/27

Igor Thiago currently heads Brentford's expected penalty order, with Kevin Schade, Fábio Carvalho and Mathias Jensen among the alternatives.

Keane Lewis-Potter, Jensen and Mikkel Damsgaard feature among the direct free-kick options, while Jensen remains particularly prominent for corners.

FPL view: Jensen's wider set-piece involvement is useful, but the penalty hierarchy is the area with the biggest potential effect on FPL value.

Brighton Penalty Taker 2026/27

Danny Welbeck and Matt O'Riley currently head Brighton's expected penalty options.

Maxim De Cuyper, Yasin Ayari, Lewis Dunk, Welbeck and Diego Gómez are among Brighton's expected direct free-kick options, while Pascal Groß, Olivier Boscagli and Yankuba Minteh feature in the corner hierarchy.

FPL view: Brighton's dead-ball responsibilities are relatively spread out, so pre-season and early competitive evidence will be particularly important.

Chelsea Penalty Taker 2026/27

Cole Palmer remains Chelsea's current expected first-choice penalty taker, with Enzo Fernández and Estêvão next in the projected hierarchy.

Reece James, Fernández, Palmer and Pedro Neto are among the expected direct free-kick options, while Chelsea also have several potential corner takers.

FPL view: Secure penalty duty would continue to strengthen Palmer's case as a premium FPL asset.

Coventry City Penalty Taker 2026/27

Haji Wright currently heads Coventry City's expected penalty hierarchy, followed by Victor Torp, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Matt Grimes.

Torp and Thomas-Asante are among the expected direct free-kick options, while Grimes, Torp and Jack Rudoni feature prominently on corners and indirect free kicks.

Availability watch: Wright is currently flagged by the FPL data feed, so his Gameweek 1 availability should be confirmed close to the deadline rather than assuming he starts.

FPL view: If Wright is available and retains penalties, the role materially improves his attacking upside.

Crystal Palace Penalty Taker 2026/27

Jean-Philippe Mateta currently leads Crystal Palace's expected penalty hierarchy, with Ismaïla Sarr and Justin Devenny next in line.

Yéremy Pino, Devenny and Brennan Johnson are among the expected direct free-kick options, while Johnson, Adam Wharton, Will Hughes and Daichi Kamada feature on corners.

FPL view: Mateta's expected penalty role adds another route to points for managers already considering him for open-play goal threat.

Everton Penalty Taker 2026/27

Iliman Ndiaye currently leads Everton's expected penalty hierarchy, with James Garner and Beto behind him.

Garner is also the clearest expected direct free-kick taker and features prominently on corners alongside Dwight McNeil and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

FPL view: Garner's broader set-piece involvement is notable, while penalties would add another layer to Ndiaye's attacking potential.

Fulham Penalty Taker 2026/27

Antonee Robinson currently appears at the head of Fulham's expected penalty hierarchy.

Alex Iwobi and Saša Lukić are among the expected corner and indirect-free-kick takers, while the direct free-kick picture is less clearly established.

FPL view: Fulham is one of the teams where the penalty hierarchy should be treated cautiously until stronger competitive evidence emerges.

Hull City Penalty Taker 2026/27

Oli McBurnie is currently Hull City's clearest expected penalty taker.

Regan Slater and Ryan Giles are the main expected corner and indirect-free-kick options, while the direct free-kick hierarchy remains less settled.

FPL view: McBurnie's potential penalty responsibility gives him an extra route to goals if he establishes himself as a regular starter.

Ipswich Town Penalty Taker 2026/27

Jack Clarke currently heads Ipswich Town's expected penalty hierarchy, with Jaden Philogene-Bidace and George Hirst next in line.

Marcelino Núñez is the leading expected direct free-kick option, while Leif Davis, Núñez, Clarke and Philogene-Bidace feature among the corner takers.

FPL view: Clarke's potential penalty responsibility is particularly relevant when assessing Ipswich attacking options.

Leeds United Penalty Taker 2026/27

Dominic Calvert-Lewin currently heads Leeds United's expected penalty hierarchy, ahead of Lukas Nmecha and Joël Piroe.

Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff are prominent among the expected free-kick options and also feature heavily in the corner hierarchy.

FPL view: Penalty duty would significantly strengthen Calvert-Lewin's appeal if his starting role is secure.

Liverpool Penalty Taker 2026/27

Dominik Szoboszlai currently heads Liverpool's expected penalty hierarchy, with Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister behind him.

Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz are the leading expected direct free-kick options, while Szoboszlai, Gakpo and Wirtz also feature prominently on corners and indirect free kicks.

FPL view: Szoboszlai's potential combination of penalties and wider set-piece responsibility could materially increase his attacking ceiling.

Manchester City Penalty Taker 2026/27

Erling Haaland remains Manchester City's expected first-choice penalty taker, with Omar Marmoush, Jérémy Doku and Matheus Nunes among the alternatives.

Marmoush, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Antoine Semenyo feature among the expected direct free-kick options, while City's corners are shared across several creative players.

FPL view: Haaland's penalty responsibility remains a major part of the case for paying his premium FPL price.

Manchester United Penalty Taker 2026/27

Bruno Fernandes remains Manchester United's clear expected first-choice penalty taker.

Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo are also expected to feature heavily on direct free kicks, with Fernandes, Mbeumo and Amad Diallo among the leading corner options.

FPL view: The combination of penalties, direct free kicks and corners gives Fernandes one of the broadest expected set-piece roles in the league.

Newcastle United Penalty Taker 2026/27

Bruno Guimarães currently heads Newcastle United's expected penalty hierarchy, with Nick Woltemade also in contention.

Lewis Hall, Fabian Schär and Guimarães feature among the expected direct free-kick options, while Hall, Guimarães and Anthony Elanga are among the leading corner takers.

FPL view: Newcastle's penalty role deserves monitoring because establishing a clear first-choice taker could significantly alter that player's FPL appeal.

Nottingham Forest Penalty Taker 2026/27

Chris Wood currently heads Nottingham Forest's expected penalty hierarchy, followed by Morgan Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus and James McAtee.

Gibbs-White and Murillo are among Forest's expected direct free-kick options, while Omari Hutchinson, Neco Williams and Dan Ndoye feature prominently on corners.

FPL view: Wood's expected penalty role reinforces his goal threat, while Gibbs-White's wider dead-ball involvement keeps him relevant even when he is not first in the penalty order.

Sunderland Penalty Taker 2026/27

Habib Diarra and Enzo Le Fée currently lead Sunderland's expected penalty options.

Granit Xhaka and Le Fée feature prominently on direct free kicks, while Xhaka, Trai Hume and Le Fée are among the expected corner takers.

FPL view: Sunderland's hierarchy is worth monitoring through the opening competitive fixtures before treating any one player's role as completely secure.

Tottenham Hotspur Penalty Taker 2026/27

Dominic Solanke currently heads Tottenham's expected penalty hierarchy, followed by Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and Richarlison.

Pedro Porro, Simons and Kudus feature among the expected direct free-kick options, while Mathys Tel, Simons and Porro are prominent on corners.

FPL view: Penalty duty would add significantly to Solanke's appeal if he remains the established first-choice striker.

What the official list does not tell you

The official page does not show a guaranteed first-to-last order, the number of penalties each player took last season, whether a rival was on the pitch for a friendly penalty, or which side of the pitch each corner taker uses. It also does not guarantee that a player listed for corners will take every corner.

That distinction matters for Liverpool. Isak is now a £9.0m forward at Liverpool, while Szoboszlai has 36 starts and 3,232 minutes in the reference season and Wirtz is a £7.5m midfielder. The club's current list names Szoboszlai and Wirtz for direct free kicks, then Szoboszlai, Gakpo and Wirtz for corners, but it does not settle the penalty order. The correct FPL conclusion is Liverpool penalties: uncertain, not a confident pick based on a single friendly or forum prediction.

Arsenal is clearer but not risk-free. Saka remains first in the live expected list, with Gyökeres and Ødegaard behind him. Gyökeres' previous-club penalty record is relevant context, not proof of a new Arsenal role. Rice leads the direct-free-kick and corner lists alongside Saka, Eze, Madueke and Ødegaard, so Saka is not the only set-piece route in the squad.

Manchester United is the strongest current monopoly profile. Bruno is first for penalties and direct free kicks and is listed first for corners. Mbeumo appears in the alternatives, but the current feed and official list do not justify carrying his old penalty role into United. At £12.0m, Bruno's duties add meaningful value to a player who already has 235 points, 35 starts and 24 assists in the reference data.

Best set-piece assets for FPL

This is an original FPL Assistant editorial set-piece rating, not an official FPL score. It uses the brief's weighting as a starting point:

• Penalty role: 30%
• Expected minutes: 20%
• Corners and indirect free kicks: 12%
• Direct free kicks: 8%
• Open-play threat: 10%
• Team attacking strength: 8%
• Opening fixtures: 7%
• Price and value: 5%

1. Bruno Fernandes — 9.6/10

Bruno is the best combination of certainty, minutes and several set-piece routes. The official list places him first for penalties, first for direct free kicks and first among the corner names. His £12.0m price is expensive, but he is a secure Manchester United starter with a 2025/26 reference line of 235 points, 3,065 minutes, 35 starts and 24 assists.

2. Bukayo Saka — 9.1/10

Saka is first for Arsenal penalties and appears high in both direct-free-kick and corner lists. His £9.5m price is easier to structure around than Bruno's, and 25 starts, seven goals and ten assists support his minutes and open-play value. Gyökeres' arrival means penalty confidence is high rather than very high.

3. Erling Haaland — 9.0/10

Haaland's penalties are a bonus on top of an elite striker role. At £15.5m he is not a bargain, but his 34 starts, 27 goals and 239 points in the reference season mean penalty duty materially strengthens a captaincy-heavy strategy. The price means this is a premium structure question, not a set-piece-only recommendation.

4. Cole Palmer — 8.8/10

Palmer remains Chelsea's first listed penalty taker and appears in the direct-free-kick group. He scored ten goals from 24 starts in the reference data, but his 114 points and new-manager context mean the set-piece role must do more work at £9.5m. He is a strong asset when his minutes and tactical role are confirmed.

5. Morgan Gibbs-White — 8.6/10

Gibbs-White is the best lower-price multi-route option: £8.0m, 35 starts, 188 points, second in the current penalty list and first for Forest direct free kicks. His 3,101 minutes make the role more credible than a promoted-team guess, although Forest's new manager and European schedule add risk.

6. Dominik Szoboszlai — 8.2/10

Szoboszlai is not a confirmed Liverpool penalty taker, so he ranks below the names above. His value comes from 36 starts, 3,232 minutes, a direct-free-kick listing, corner involvement and a £7.0m price. He is the best current Liverpool set-piece asset to consider without pretending the penalties are settled.

7. Pedro Porro — 7.9/10

Porro is the clearest defender in the official corner/direct-free-kick profile at Spurs. He costs £5.5m and made 32 starts in the reference season. Defender goals, assists, clean sheets and bonus points can compound the value, but the new manager and shared Spurs list prevent a higher confidence label.

8. Dominic Calvert-Lewin — 7.7/10

Calvert-Lewin is the best cheap penalty-led forward candidate in the current table. At £6.0m he had 30 starts and 142 points in the reference data, and he leads the official Leeds penalty list. The role is attractive, but the penalty evidence is less established than Bruno's and a new club always needs confirmation.

Set-piece responsibility can also help separate candidates in the best FPL captain picks.

Pair the GW1 team-news line-ups with set-piece information so the taker is also expected to play.

Use the GW1 captain picks to see how penalties and set pieces change the armband decision.

The complete Gameweek 1 hub brings set-piece information together with minutes, fixtures and captaincy decisions.

Best penalty takers to own in FPL

Penalty duty only becomes valuable when the player is likely to play, occupies a useful position and has enough open-play involvement to avoid depending on one event. The best practical shortlist is:

1. Bruno Fernandes — best all-round midfielder and captaincy alternative.
2. Saka — first listed at Arsenal with open-play and corner value.
3. Haaland — elite striker and first listed at Manchester City.
4. Palmer — first listed at Chelsea, but needs role and minutes confirmation.
5. Gibbs-White — the strongest £8.0m value route with direct free kicks.
6. Calvert-Lewin — £6.0m penalty upside, but less certainty.
7. Szoboszlai — useful set pieces and minutes, not a penalty pick.

The best premium midfielders guide gives the wider Bruno, Saka, Palmer and Gibbs-White comparison. Use most nailed FPL players alongside this list: set-piece value does not rescue a player who is not in the XI.

Best cheap set-piece takers

The strongest cheap candidates are Gibbs-White at £8.0m, Szoboszlai at £7.0m, Calvert-Lewin at £6.0m, Pedro Porro at £5.5m, Jensen at £5.5m, Le Fée at £6.0m, Hume at £4.5m and Digne at £4.5m. They are not equivalent:

• Gibbs-White is the best value because his minutes and direct-free-kick role are both credible.
• Szoboszlai offers the best mix of minutes and delivery, but Liverpool penalties are uncertain.
• Calvert-Lewin offers the best cheap forward penalty angle, subject to Leeds team news.
• Porro and Digne are defenders who deliver set pieces, not defenders who are necessarily penalty takers.
• Hume is a £4.5m defender with 34 reference starts, so his corner role is more interesting than a bench-only name.
• Jensen and Le Fée need a clear starting role before their set pieces become a reason to buy.

Compare the full midfield alternatives in best budget midfielders and the lowest-price routes in best £4.5m midfielders. Do not spend £0.5m on a set-piece story that never enters your starting XI.

Defenders with set-piece appeal

There are two different kinds of defender appeal:

1. The defender takes the set piece. Pedro Porro, Hume, Digne and Robinson appear in current delivery lists. Their FPL value comes from crosses, chances created and possible assists, plus defensive points.
2. The defender is a target. Centre-backs such as Dunk, Schär and Murillo appear around their clubs' set-piece groups or can benefit from delivery without taking it. Their value is aerial threat, not corner volume.

Taking a corner does not guarantee a clean sheet, assist or bonus point. A defender still needs minutes, defensive involvement and a team capable of turning delivery into shots. Use the best FPL defenders guide for the full position comparison.

Direct free-kick and corner specialists

Bruno is the best direct-free-kick threat in this pool because the role is paired with penalties, corners, minutes and open-play creation. Gibbs-White is the best value direct-free-kick candidate. Rice and Saka give Arsenal two high-quality delivery routes, while Palmer remains relevant at Chelsea.

For corners, Arsenal's Rice/Saka combination is the strongest current team profile, but the taker is not automatically the best FPL pick. Szoboszlai, Porro and Hume are more interesting when their prices and minutes create a route into your XI. Ten average corners should not outweigh a player with superior open-play threat and secure starts.

The best FPL fixtures for the first six Gameweeks guide is useful when set-piece roles are close. Favour the player whose team has more attacking possession and whose first six fixtures support sustained pressure, not only the player listed in a corner column.

Why penalty duty matters in FPL

Under the official 2026/27 rules, a goal is worth 5 points for a midfielder, 4 for a forward and 6 for a defender. The scorer can also gain bonus points, while a missed penalty costs -2 points. Goalkeepers can earn points for saving penalties. Winning a penalty does not itself award the taker points: the player must score, assist under the relevant rules or gain another action.

That scoring difference explains why a penalty-taking midfielder can be particularly valuable. Bruno or Saka receive five points for a goal before bonus, while a forward receives four. But probability and minutes still matter. A player who takes one penalty in a season is not automatically better than a regular starter who creates chances every week.

Penalty conversion history is useful only when the sample is meaningful. The current FPL feed records missed penalties, but not a complete public table of penalties taken and scored for every club. This guide therefore avoids calling any player an “elite” or “poor” penalty taker from a tiny or incomplete sample. Recheck the official set-piece page, match reports and manager comments after every competitive penalty.

Set-piece situations to watch before Gameweek 1

High priority to monitor

• Liverpool penalties: the official list does not settle Isak, Szoboszlai or Gakpo. Do not infer a first choice from a single friendly.
• Arsenal penalties: Saka leads, but Gyökeres' previous-club record and the new attacking structure make the backup order worth checking.
• Bournemouth penalties: Kroupi Jr leads the official list but is currently flagged injured; Kluivert and Tavernier remain credible alternatives.
• Newcastle penalties: Woltemade leads a new-club prediction with Hall, Bruno Guimarães and Schär also listed.
• Promoted clubs: Hull, Ipswich and Sunderland have limited Premier League evidence, so any low-price penalty claim needs a starting role and competitive confirmation.

Medium priority

• Chelsea's shared direct-free-kick and corner group under a new manager.
• Manchester City's rotating direct-free-kick and corner group around Haaland.
• Forest's Gibbs-White/Wood split after Glasner's system change.
• Spurs' new attacking group around Solanke, Kudus, Xavi and Tel.
• Everton's Garner availability and whether Ndiaye remains first.

Low priority

• Bruno Fernandes' Manchester United role is the most settled current profile, although Mbeumo's previous-club duties should not be imported without evidence.
• Haaland's Manchester City penalty role is very high confidence while he starts and remains first in the official list.
• Palmer's Chelsea penalty role is high confidence, subject to final availability and manager choices.

How this guide will be updated

Set-piece roles can change after:

• A competitive penalty with the normal taker on the pitch.
• A manager's direct statement.
• A transfer, injury or starting-role change.
• A repeated pre-season pattern with credible rivals present.
• A missed penalty or voluntary handover.

The next freshness review should check the official FPL Set-Piece Takers page, current bootstrap feed, final team news and the first competitive match reports. No historical change is recorded here unless it has been independently verified. Last checked: 7 August 2026.