Welcome to The Radar, a Sky Sports column where Nick Wright mixes statistics with opinion to highlight essential Premier League narratives. In the season's opening edition we explore three key topics: - Manchester United's struggles defending corners - Ethan Ampadu's increasingly potent long throws - A player to keep an eye on this weekend Michael Carrick bristled when critics claimed United's loss to Hull City stemmed from a lack of passion, pointing out that both goals came from set‑piece situations. This is not the first instance where the Red Devils have shown vulnerability on dead balls.
In fact, Hull’s opening goal—a rebound finished at close range by Semi Ajayi—marked the twelfth corner that United have conceded since the start of last season. That tally ties them with Leeds United for the joint‑highest number of corners allowed among all current Premier League clubs over that period. Ajayi’s strike was quickly followed by a second goal from Nobel Mendy, who scored from a free‑kick. United’s defensive frailties were further exposed by corner goals they surrendered to Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Brentford and Nottingham Forest in the final two months of the previous campaign.
While those concessions did not cost them points—United won each of those four matches and secured a third‑place finish—the footage makes it clear how easily opponents have found space inside United’s box. In the Hull match, for example, Ajayi managed to slip into a dangerous area while Harry Maguire inexplicably blocked his own teammate Noussair Mazraoui.
Similarly, Maxence Lacroix for Palace, Ross Barkley for Aston Villa and Morato for Forest all enjoyed virtually no pressure when they headed in from corners. Hull’s head coach Sergej Jakirović even mentioned in his post‑match press conference that his staff had devised specific plans to exploit United’s corner weakness, underscoring how much attention rival teams are paying to this flaw. Carrick can defend his record to some extent. Since taking over in January, United have improved defensively: they conceded 31 goals in 21 league games before his arrival last season, but only 20 in the 18 games under his stewardship this term.
Nevertheless, United now rank third in the league for the proportion of goals conceded from set‑pieces since Carrick’s first match in charge, highlighting that the problem remains significant. On the offensive side, United have been prolific from dead balls. Their 26 set‑piece goals last season were the second‑highest tally in the Premier League, trailing only champions Arsenal.
This duality—strong attacking set‑piece output but porous defending—creates a paradox that the club must resolve before another hull‑style collapse occurs. Their upcoming Premier League fixture against Ipswich Town at Old Trafford on Sunday, broadcast live on Sky Sports, could provide the next test of whether opponents will once again capitalize on United’s corner vulnerability.
Turning to the other headline, Leeds United appear to have struck a bargain by securing Ethan Ampadu on a new contract that runs until 2030. The 22‑year‑old captain, praised by manager Daniel Farke and lauded by pundit Jamie Carragher as one of his favourite midfielders, excels in the No 6 role, blending deep‑lying playmaking duties with the tenacity of a destroyer.
Yet perhaps his most valuable weapon is his long throw, a set‑piece tool that has become increasingly lethal. Since the start of last season, Ampadu has delivered 139 long throws into the opposition’s penalty area, ranking him just behind Michael Kayode in total attempts. In terms of shots generated from those throws, Ampadu is tied with Kayode at five, and he also matches Kayode’s goal tally from long throws.
A recent example came in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, where a looping throw from Ampadu drifted toward the near post and, after a defensive lapse, was bundled home by James Justin. Though the delivery was not his most precise, the resulting goal sparked a jubilant celebration from the Leeds faithful, who had previously teased him about the length of his throws. Ampadu admits he faced criticism from his own supporters when he first began taking long throws early last season.
He recalled in February: “I got battered a little bit by Leeds fans, saying it wasn’t actually that long, which was true, sometimes it’s not great. But it’s getting longer.” Recent comments from teammate Brenden Aaronson, after Ampadu’s throws produced two goals in a pre‑season friendly against Liverpool, described the development as “unbelievable,” noting that Ampadu had started launching the ball roughly 20 yards farther and harder than before. While Aaronson’s description may be hyperbolic, the data supports a clear upward trajectory. Ampadu’s average throw distance has risen from around 28 metres at the start of the season to approximately 32 metres now, putting him on par with specialist thrower Kayode.
This improvement reflects dedicated practice and a growing confidence in using the throw as a tactical weapon. Leeds will hope to reap further benefits as long throws continue to shape modern football tactics. The opening round of fixtures this season featured 33 long throws, aligning closely with last season’s average of 3.9 per game. Fans can expect to see even more of these set‑piece opportunities at Elland Road on Sunday.
In other news, Gonzalo García, Fulham’s £34 million acquisition from Real Madrid, followed a poacher’s finish against Chelsea with a brilliant solo strike in the Carabao Cup win over AFC Wimbledon. García will aim to trouble Sunderland when Fulham travel to the north on Sunday. Sky Sports will broadcast five Premier League matches this weekend, beginning with Crystal Palace versus Manchester City on Friday night.
Saturday’s lineup includes Tottenham hosting Newcastle, while Sunday offers a packed schedule: Chelsea versus Brighton, Leeds versus Brentford at 2 pm, and a simultaneous Sunderland‑Fulham clash on Sky Sports+. Manchester United will close the weekend with their encounter against Ipswich at Old Trafford. Looking ahead, the Monday Night Football fixture pits Aston Villa against Arsenal at Villa Park on August 31, promising another high‑profile showdown. For those seeking extra excitement, the Super 6 competition offers a chance to win £1 million, with free entry available now.