Set-Pieces Reign Supreme in Premier League 2025-26

Tottenham Hotspur's win over Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium, marked by two goals from set-pieces, highlights the significant role dead-ball scenarios play in the Premier League. Manager Thomas Frank's tactical flexibility and faith in dead-ball routines yielded the result, as Tottenham became the last club to concede from a set-piece excluding penalties this season. The win pushed them into third place, five points behind leaders Arsenal.

Key Takeaways:

• Tottenham's two first-half set-piece goals came from Micky van de Ven, who scored from both corners, and Pape Matar Sarr, who netted a late third after an assist from Richarlison.
• Everton's defensive solidity was breached by Tottenham's set-pieces, with manager David Moyes' side searching in vain for a route back as the rain poured down.
• Tottenham's manager Thomas Frank seems to be utilizing set-pieces as a key tactic, evident in their usage of long throws and clever set-piece routines.
• Spurs' best attacking player this season, Mohammed Kudus, shifted into a No 10 role, while Randal Kolo Muani, on loan from Juventus, made his first start for the club since joining mid-season.
• Everton's loan star Jack Grealish had a big chance early on but was denied by a block from Pedro Porro's ankle, while Spurs' goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario resembled a brick wall in Monaco in midweek and was just as difficult to beat here.
• Richarlison, on for Muani on the hour, should have netted after escaping James Tarkowski but couldn't fire past Pickford.
• The defeat ended Everton's unbeaten run at their shiny new ground, while Spurs kept up their red-hot form on the road under Frank.
• The use of set-pieces by Frank is at odds with his predecessor Ange Postecoglou's style, who focused more on open play.

Statistics:

• Tottenham's first successful set-piece came on 19 minutes and involved an ingenious assist from Rodrigo Bentancur.
• Van de Ven scored from TWO first-half corners, making it the last club in the top flight to concede from a set-piece excluding penalties.
• Spurs became the last club to concede from a set-piece excluding penalties this season.
• Everton were 0-0 after 45 minutes, level until the 54th minute when Bentancur's assist led to Van de Ven's goal.
• Grealish had the first big chance but was denied by a block from Pedro Porro's ankle.
• Iliman Ndiaye and Grealish were both adjudged to be offside, leading to VAR to confirm the decision.
• The Italian goalkeeper Vicario made two fine stops, the first to deny Beto's overhead kick and then a deflected Ndiaye shot.
• Tottenham had the most possession, but looked ponderous and overly safe with it.
• Spurs have maintained their unbeaten form on the road under Frank, thanks to their in-vogue method of relying on set-pieces.

Sources:

• "Tottenham 2 Everton 1: Van de Ven gives Frank third win" by Tom Barclay, as published by the original text (author's name withheld).
• The Premier League official website and statistics.