How do I tell who will take penalties and free-kicks for a club?

Look at recent matches, club announcements and starting lineups; managers usually give consistent duties to established stars and will signal changes in press conferences or training reports.

Should I transfer in a player just because they take penalties?

Yes, if they are a regular starter — pen takers raise your weekly floor and captaincy value — but avoid players who are benched or in rotation even if they take kicks.

Do free-kick specialists always score more points?

Not always: direct free-kick goals are rare, but consistent set-piece involvement produces shots, chances and occasional assists that lift a player’s value over time.

Set-Piece Commanders: Who Really Holds Your FPL Penalties and Free-Kicks

Fantasy managers swear by minutes and goals, but the quiet currency of every campaign is set-piece duty — penalties and direct free-kicks. Most Premier League clubs designate a primary penalty taker and one or two dead-ball specialists; identifying them is the quickest route to reliable midweek points and big-match differentials.

There are clear assignments at the top: Manchester City traditionally give spot-kicks to Erling Haaland and dead-ball responsibility to Kevin De Bruyne, while Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes is the obvious penalty and long-range set-piece option. Liverpool are led by Mohamed Salah from the spot with Trent Alexander-Arnold and others chipping in from range; Arsenal’s duties tend to fall between Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka depending on formation and personnel.

Beneath the elite names lies variety — some clubs rotate duties, others hand the ball to whoever is hottest or most trusted by the manager on the day. Tottenham reallocated kicks after Harry Kane’s departure and Son Heung-min has taken on greater responsibility, while teams in transition (Chelsea, newly promoted sides) often keep set-piece roles flexible until a pattern emerges.

My recommendation for FPL: target reliable takers for their extra-floor and captaincy insurance — the elite names will keep delivering unless injured or transferred. Watch pre-match cues, ownership swings and manager comments; when a club publicly endorses a kicker, buy the player sooner rather than later. I predict the usual suspects — Haaland, Fernandes, Salah, De Bruyne — will remain the most valuable set-piece assets this season.