Welcome to The Radar, a Sky Sports column where Nick Wright blends statistics with personal insight to highlight essential Premier League narratives. In this season's opening edition we explore three key topics: - Manchester United's persistent struggles defending corner kicks - Ethan Ampadu's increasingly potent long throws - A player to keep an eye on this weekend Michael Carrick pushed back hard when critics suggested United's loss to Hull City was simply a matter of lacking passion. He reminded everyone that both Hull goals originated from set‑piece situations, underscoring a deeper, recurring defensive issue.
This isn’t the first time United have been vulnerable on dead balls; the pattern stretches back through last season and continues to haunt them. Hull’s opening goal came when Semi Ajayi pounced on a rebound and smashed the ball home from close range. That strike marked the twelfth corner that United have allowed since the start of the previous campaign – a figure that ties them with Leeds for the highest total among all current Premier League clubs over that period. Ajayi’s goal was quickly followed by a free‑kick strike from Nobel Mendy, and United later suffered corner‑derived concessions against Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Brentford and Nottingham Forest in the final two months of the 2022‑23 season.
Those earlier set‑piece goals did not cost United points at the time – they went on to win each of those matches and ultimately secured a third‑place finish. However, revisiting the footage makes it clear how readily their opponents have found space and created scoring opportunities from corners. In the Hull game, for instance, Ajayi slipped into a gap while United centre‑back Harry Maguire appeared to be holding his own teammate Noussair Mazraoui, leaving the defender out of position.
Similar lapses were evident when Maxence Lacroix, Ross Barkley and Morato each scored unchallenged for Palace, Villa and Forest respectively. Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic highlighted this defensive frailty in his post‑match press conference, explaining that he and his video analyst had devised specific plans to exploit United’s corner‑defending weakness.
While Carrick can point to an overall defensive improvement since taking over in January – United have conceded 31 goals in 21 league games before his arrival and only 20 in the subsequent 18 – the fact remains that United now rank third in the league for the proportion of goals conceded from set‑pieces since Carrick’s first match in charge. On the offensive side of the equation, United have been prolific from dead‑ball situations.
Their 26 set‑piece goals last season placed them second only to champions Arsenal in the Premier League. Yet, until they can tighten up at the far end of the pitch, every incoming corner or free‑kick poses a risk of another collapse similar to the Hull defeat. Their upcoming league clash against Ipswich Town at Old Trafford on Sunday – broadcast live on Sky Sports – will test whether they have remedied this vulnerability or will present another opportunity for the visitors to capitalize.
Switching focus to the midfield, Leeds United appear to have secured a strategic coup by extending Ethan Ampadu’s contract through 2030. The 22‑year‑old captain has flourished under Daniel Farke, earning praise as an exceptional leader and a versatile No 6 who can dictate play as a deep‑lying playmaker while also delivering the hard‑working defensive work of a destroyer. Yet perhaps his most decisive weapon is his long throw, a set‑piece tool that has become increasingly lethal. Since the start of the 2022‑23 season, Ampadu has launched 139 long throws into the opposition box, a tally that places him just behind Michael Kayode, his direct rival in the long‑throw specialist category.
In terms of shots generated from those throws, Ampadu sits level with Kayode at 53 attempts, and both have contributed five goals each from the technique. A recent example came in the Carabao Cup tie against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, where Ampadu’s looping throw drifted toward the near post.
Forest failed to clear it, and James Justin bundled the ball home for a goal that sparked a jubilant celebration from Ampadu, who turned to the home crowd that had previously mocked his ability. Ampadu admits that his early attempts at long throws attracted criticism from Leeds supporters, who claimed his deliveries were not truly long. He recalled a February comment: "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 pre‑season matches against Liverpool saw two of his throws result directly in goals, prompting teammate Brenden Aaronson to describe the improvement as "unbelievable" and claim Ampadu was now throwing "about 20 yards further and 20 yards harder." While Aaronson’s figures are hyperbolic, the data tells a clear story: Ampadu’s average throw distance has risen from roughly 28 metres in early February to about 32 metres now, putting him on par with the elite long‑throwers in the league. Leeds hope to harness this tactical edge as long throws continue to shape modern football.
The opening round of fixtures this season featured 33 long throws, roughly matching last season’s record average of 3.9 per game. Fans can expect to see even more of these aerial weapons on display at Elland Road on Sunday. Beyond the set‑piece focus, the column also notes other headline moments: Gonzalo Garcia, the £34 million Real Madrid acquisition, followed a poacher’s finish against Chelsea with a dazzling solo strike in Fulham’s Carabao Cup victory over AFC Wimbledon, and he will look to trouble Sunderland on Sunday.
The weekend’s broadcast schedule includes five live Premier League matches on Sky Sports, starting with Crystal Palace versus Manchester City on Friday night, followed by Tottenham hosting Newcastle on Saturday, and a packed Sunday lineup featuring Chelsea versus Brighton, Leeds versus Brentford, and Sunderland versus Fulham, all streamed on Sky Sports+. Manchester United close the weekend with their clash against Ipswich at Old Trafford. Looking ahead, Monday Night Football will pit Aston Villa against Arsenal at Villa Park on August 31, adding another high‑profile fixture to the calendar. Fans are also reminded of the Super 6 competition, offering a chance to win £1 million with free entry.
In summary, Manchester United must address their corner‑defending deficiencies if they hope to avoid repeat setbacks, while Ethan Ampadu’s evolving long‑throw capability provides Leeds with a distinctive tactical weapon that could influence matches throughout the season. Both narratives underscore how set‑piece proficiency – both defensive and offensive – remains a pivotal factor in the Premier League’s competitive landscape.