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 cover three key points: - Manchester United's struggles defending corner kicks - Ethan Ampadu's increasingly lethal long throws - A player to keep an eye on this weekend Former United midfielder Michael Carrick bristled when critics blamed the 2-0 loss to Hull City on a lack of passion, pointing out that both Hull goals originated from set‑piece situations. This is not the first time United have shown vulnerability when defending dead balls. Hull’s opening scorer, Semi Ajayi, tapped in a rebound after a corner, marking the 12th corner‑conceded goal for United since the beginning of last season.
That tally ties United with Leeds United for the highest number of corners allowed among current Premier League clubs over that period. Ajayi’s strike was quickly followed by a free‑kick goal from Nobel Mendy, and United later surrendered corner goals against Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Brentford and Nottingham Forest in the final two months of the 2022‑23 campaign. Those goals did not affect the outcomes then – United won each of those matches and secured a third‑place finish – but the footage reveals how easily opponents found space inside the box.
Unlike the Hull encounter, the previous season’s set‑piece concessions came in games United ultimately won, but the pattern remains worrying. In the Hull match, Ajayi exploited a moment when Harry Maguire inexplicably obstructed his own teammate Noussair Mazraoui, while Maxence Lacroix, Ross Barkley and Morato each received unchallenged deliveries for Palace, Villa and Forest respectively. Hull’s head coach Sergej Jakirović highlighted United’s corner frailty in his post‑match press conference, noting that his staff had prepared specific plans to exploit the Red Devils’ defensive weakness. Carrick can counter that United’s overall defence has improved since his appointment in January.
Before he arrived, United had let in 31 goals in 21 league games; under his guidance they have conceded only 20 in the subsequent 18 matches. Nevertheless, United now rank third in the league for the proportion of goals conceded from set‑pieces since Carrick took charge, underscoring the persistence of the issue. On the flip side, United have been prolific attackers from set‑pieces.
Their 26 set‑piece goals last season placed them second only to champions Arsenal, demonstrating that the club can both score and concede from dead‑ball situations. Until they tighten up defensively, however, they risk another collapse similar to the Hull defeat. Ipswich Town, who travel to Old Trafford on Sunday, will be eager to test United’s corner defence and could become the next team to reap the benefits.
Turning to the other story, Leeds United secured a significant coup in the summer by extending Ethan Ampadu’s contract until 2030. The 22‑year‑old captain has thrived under Daniel Farke, earning praise as a leader and being singled out by Sky pundit Jamie Carragher as one of his favourite midfielders. Ampadu operates as a deep‑lying playmaker and a ball‑winning destroyer, contributing both creatively and defensively.
His most distinctive weapon, however, is his long throw. With 139 long throws into the opposition box since the start of last season, he trails only Michael Kayode in total attempts, but he matches Kayode’s five goals from those throws and exceeds his 53 attempts. In the Carabao Cup tie against Nottingham Forest, Ampadu’s throw – though not his sharpest – looped toward the near post, and after Forest failed to clear, James Justin bundled the ball home.
Ampadu celebrated by turning to the home crowd, who had previously teased his ability. Ampadu admits that early in the season Leeds fans mocked his throws, saying they weren’t long enough.
He recalled being “battered a little bit by Leeds fans” in February, acknowledging that his deliveries were sometimes sub‑par but insisting they were improving. Recent pre‑season matches against Liverpool saw two of his throws result in goals, prompting teammate Brenden Aaronson to describe the evolution as "unbelievable" and claim Ampadu was now throwing "about 20 yards further and 20 yards harder." While Aaronson’s figures were hyperbolic, the data tells a clear story: Ampadu’s average throw distance has risen from roughly 28 metres in February to about 32 metres now, putting him on par with specialist Michael Kayode. Leeds hope to capitalise on this trend, especially as long throws have become a defining tactical element across the league. The opening round of fixtures featured 33 long throws, aligning closely with last season’s average of 3.9 per game.
Fans can expect even more of these aerial weapons at Elland Road on Sunday. Elsewhere, Gonzalo Garcia, Fulham’s £34 million acquisition from Real Madrid, followed a poacher’s finish against Chelsea with a brilliant solo goal in the Carabao Cup win over AFC Wimbledon, and he will look to trouble Sunderland on Sunday. Sky Sports will broadcast five Premier League matches this weekend, beginning with Crystal Palace versus Manchester City on Friday night. Saturday sees Tottenham host Newcastle, while Sunday’s packed schedule includes Chelsea versus Brighton, Leeds versus Brentford, and Sunderland versus Fulham, all live on Sky Sports+.
Manchester United close the weekend with a home clash against Ipswich. A Monday Night Football fixture is also on the horizon, with Aston Villa taking on Arsenal at Villa Park on August 31.
For those seeking extra excitement, the Super 6 competition offers a chance to win £1 million – entry is free.