Taking set pieces can form the a big part of a players ability to put up big scores on Sorare. The potential for a player to scoring a decisive increases the more set pieces they take (particularly penalties). But even if there is no goal or assist, players will gather more AA scores from actions such as attempted assists and shots on target. You can find a full breakdown of the Sorare scoring matrix in our Sorare Beginners Guide.

In this article we’ll review the expected set piece takers heading into the 2023/24 season for all 12 Premiership sides. There are couple of teams with easily defined situations and players that are a real value on Sorare. For others it’s pretty up in the air at this point and likely to change depending on how the transfer window goes.

If you haven’t signed up to Sorare and fancy giving it a go, sign up via this referral link and earn a free limited card when you collect five cards via New Card Auctions.

• Penalties: Bojan Miovski
• Direct Free Kicks: Leighton Clarkson, Duk, Jonny Hayes
• Indirect Free Kicks: Jonny Hayes, Leighton Clarkson
• Corners: Jonny Hayes, Leighton Clarkson

First up, penalties are pretty clear for Aberdeen. If Bojan Miovski is on the pitch he’s the taker for the Dons. The rest is pretty clear as well, being split between Jonny Hayes and Leighton Clarkson with Duk taking some of the direct free kicks.

• Penalties: Reo Hatate, Kyogo Furuhashi, Oh Hyeon Gyu
• Direct Free Kicks: Matt O’Reilly
• Indirect Free Kicks: Matt O’Reilly
• Corners: Matt O’Reilly, David Turnbull

Penalties are a complete crap-shoot for Celtic. There have been 5 penalty takers over the last season and none of them have taken more than 2 in games covered by Sorare. This one might come down to new manager, Brendan Rodgers’ preference. Reo Hatate took a penalty in a friendly against Portimonense.

The rest of the set pieces look a lot clearer after some big news over the last couple of days. Aaron Mooy has retired and Jota has moved to Saudi Arabia, leaving Matt O’Reilly as the clear first choice to take all free kicks and corners. At this point in the off-season he seems a pretty safe bet, but Celtic are sure to be spending big after selling Jota, so keep an eye out for any competition being brought in!

• Penalties: Zach Robinson, Zak Rudden, Lyall Cameron
• Direct Free Kicks: Luke McCowan, Lyall Cameron
• Indirect Free Kicks: Luke McCowan, Lyall Cameron
• Corners: Luke McCowan

There’s going to be quite a lot of unknowns with the Dundee takers I think. Paul McMullan and Luke Hannant both took some corners and free-kicks last season and have moved on. Luke McCowan also took both and is the most likely to be the primary taker this season. Lyall Cameron took some set-pieces through the year, but I think he’s likely to be the second man up.

In terms of penalties, Zach Robinson took 3 of Dundee’s 6 league penalties last season so if the clear favourite to take them this season. Zak Rudden and Cameron each took one in the league, but should be secondary options.

• Penalties: Lawrence Shankland
• Direct Free Kicks: Stephen Kingsley, Barrie McKay
• Indirect Free Kicks: Barrie McKay
• Corners: Barrie McKay

It’s all looking pretty clear in Hearts. Lawrence Shankland is the undisputed penalty taker and was a perfect 13 for 13 last season. Otherwise, Barrie McKay looks to have the majority of everything.

Earlier in last season Robert Snodgrass was also in the picture, but after Steven Naismith took charge Snodgrass was immediately out of the picture. Since the McKay has taken just about everything whilst he was on the pitch, with Stephen Kingsley’s direct free-kicks coming before the manager change.

• Penalties: Martin Boyle, Josh Campbell
• Direct Free Kicks: Ewan Henderson, Joe Newell
• Indirect Free Kicks: Joe Newell
• Corners: Joe Newell, Ewan Henderson

Martin Boyle took a couple of penalties early in the year before suffering a season ending ACL injury. In his absence Josh Campbell and the out-going Kevin Nisbet took a pair each – Boyle is expected to be fit to start the season and should take over penalties again.

The rest of the set pieces were mostly split between Joe Newell and Ewan Henderson. With Henderson being predominantly a substitute, Newell is the card to have on Sorare.

• Penalties: Daniel Armstrong
• Direct Free Kicks: Daniel Armstrong
• Indirect Free Kicks: Daniel Armstrong
• Corners: Daniel Armstrong

Kilmarnock is nice an easy – Danny Armstrong takes absolutely everything when he’s on the pitch. He was one of my favourite cards to use last season, and I expect it to be the same again this year!

• Penalties: Sean Kelly
• Direct Free Kicks: Stephen Kelly, Sean Kelly
• Indirect Free Kicks: Stephen Kelly, Sean Kelly
• Corners: Sean Kelly, Stephen Kelly

Apart from penalties, the two Kelly’s (unrelated) split set pieces in Livingston. Sean Kelly would be my preferred option of the two, he gets the penalties and does better with AA than Stephen Kelly. Sean also scored from a direct free-kick in Livingston’s first competitive game of the season against Brechin.

• Penalties: ???
• Direct Free Kicks: Blair Spittal
• Indirect Free Kicks: Blair Spittal
• Corners: Blair Spittal

Penalty taker is completely up in the air for Motherwell at this point. Kevin van Veen took every penalty last year so we don’t have much to go on at all.

Currently, Blair Spittal is the favourite to take the rest of the set pieces. For the most part he split them with Sean Goss last season. Goss is currently out of contract, although he has been discussing a new deal with Motherwell. If he does return I would expect them to split the set-pieces again.

• Penalties: James Tavernier
• Direct Free Kicks: James Tavernier, Borna Barišić
• Indirect Free Kicks: James Tavernier, Borna Barišić
• Corners: James Tavernier, Borna Barišić

James Tavernier is the top set-piece taker at Rangers and fantastic from all dead ball opportunities. Borna Barišić is the deputy but is a very clear second. For Sorare, it’s not too relevant at this point as neither have cards and Rangers aren’t a licensed club.

• Penalties: Yan Dhanda
• Direct Free Kicks: Yan Dhanda
• Indirect Free Kicks: Yan Dhanda, George Harmon
• Corners: Yan Dhanda, George Harmon

Yan Dhanda should take the majority of set pieces but he doesn’t often turn it into solid AA scores. He did pick up 11 decisive actions for a Ross County side that was almost relegated, so he’s definitely worth having a look at. George Harmon takes some of the indirect set pieces, and has a much better AA game than Dhanda – he would be my pick of the two.

• Penalties: Steven May
• Direct Free Kicks: Graham Carey, Cameron MacPherson
• Indirect Free Kicks: Graham Carey, Cameron MacPherson
• Corners: Graham Carey, Cameron MacPherson

Steven May is the undisputed penalty taker. Otherwise Graham Carey and Cameron MacPherson split the majority of the other set pieces. MacPherson has more potential to hit big scores than Carey, but neither are overly exciting for SO5.

• Penalties: Mark O’Hara
• Direct Free Kicks: Ryan Strain, Scott Tanser
• Indirect Free Kicks: Ryan Strain, Scott Tanser
• Corners: Ryan Strain, Scott Tanser

Captain, Mark O’Hara, is the penalty taker for St Mirren and there is no reason to expect that to change this year. For the rest of the set pieces Ryan Strain has had the lead over Scott Tanser last year and has been a really solid AA scorer – definitely one to consider! Tanser was also in out of the starting line-up near the end of the season, so I would steer clear heading into 2023/23

If you haven’t signed up to Sorare and fancy giving it a go, sign up via this referral link and earn a free limited card when you collect five cards via New Card Auctions.