Welcome to The Radar, Sky Sports' analytical column where Nick Wright blends statistics with insight to highlight the Premier League’s must‑know narratives. In this season‑opening edition we focus on three key points: - Manchester United’s struggles defending corner kicks - Ethan Ampadu’s increasingly potent long throws - A player to keep an eye on this weekend Michael Carrick bristled when pundits suggested United’s 2‑1 loss to Hull City was a symptom of a lack of passion. He reminded everyone that both Hull goals originated from set‑piece situations, underlining that United’s vulnerability on dead balls is a recurring theme rather than a one‑off lapse. Hull’s opening goal came when Semi Ajayi smashed home a rebound from close range after a corner.
That strike marked the 12th corner that United have conceded since the start of the 2022‑23 campaign – a tally that puts them level with Leeds for the highest number of corners allowed among all current Premier League clubs over that period. Ajayi’s effort was quickly followed by Nobel Mendy’s free‑kick, and United have also been on the wrong end of corner goals against Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Brentford and Nottingham Forest in the final two months of last season. Those concessions did not cost United points then – they won each of those matches and secured a third‑place finish – but the footage reveals how easily the opposition found space and turned set‑piece deliveries into clear chances.
A similar pattern emerged in the Hull game: Harry Maguire appeared to block his own teammate Noussair Mazraoui, creating a gap that Ajayi exploited. Likewise, Maxence Lacroix, Ross Barkley and Morato were left largely unmarked when they scored for Palace, Villa and Forest respectively, highlighting a systemic frailty in United’s defensive organization during aerial set‑pieces. Hull’s head coach, Sergej Jakirović, even mentioned in his post‑match press conference that he and his video analyst had devised a plan specifically to target United’s corner‑defence weakness.
This admission underscores how United’s set‑piece issues have become a known exploitable flaw. Carrick can point to some defensive progress since taking over in January. United conceded 31 goals in 21 league games before his arrival last season, but have only allowed 20 in 18 matches under his stewardship this term. However, the fact that United now rank third‑highest in the league for the proportion of goals conceded from set‑pieces since Carrick’s first game in charge shows that the problem, while improved in general, remains pronounced when it comes to dead‑ball situations.
On the offensive side, United have been far more effective. Their 26 set‑piece goals last season were only eclipsed by champions Arsenal, indicating that United can turn corners and free‑kicks into scoring opportunities when the ball is in their own half.
The imbalance between a potent attacking set‑piece record and a porous defensive one creates a dangerous paradox: as long as opponents continue to deliver quality corners, United risk suffering another collapse like the one against Hull. Their upcoming Premier League clash with Ipswich Town at Old Trafford on Sunday will be a litmus test – Ipswich will look to replicate Hull’s success by targeting United’s aerial frailties.
Switching focus to Leeds United, the club secured a significant coup this summer by extending Ethan Ampadu’s contract until 2030. The 22‑year‑old, now captain, thrives under Daniel Farke’s system, playing a dual role as a deep‑lying playmaker and a ball‑winning midfielder. While his tactical intelligence and leadership have earned high praise – Jamie Carragher has called him one of his favourite midfielders – Ampadu’s most distinctive weapon is his long throw.
Since the start of the 2022‑23 season Ampadu has delivered 139 long throws into the opposition box, second only to Michael Kayode. He also matches Kayode’s tally of five goals from long throws and surpasses him in terms of attempts, with 53 throws that reached the target area.
In the Carabao Cup tie against Nottingham Forest, Ampadu’s throw, though not his cleanest, produced a looping ball that drifted toward the near post. A defensive lapse from Forest saw James Justin bundle the ball home, prompting Ampadu to celebrate in front of the home crowd that had previously mocked his technique.
Ampadu admits that early in the season Leeds fans were skeptical of his ability to generate sufficient distance. He recalled being “battered a little bit by Leeds fans, saying it wasn’t actually that long,” but he persisted, and the data shows a clear upward trajectory. After two of his throws resulted in goals against Liverpool in a pre‑season friendly, teammate Brenden Aaronson exclaimed that Ampadu’s throws were now “about 20 yards further and 20 yards harder.” While Aaronson’s comment was hyperbolic, the numbers back him up: Ampadu’s average throw length has risen from roughly 28 metres in February to about 32 metres now, putting him on par with specialist Kayode. Leeds will hope to exploit this growing threat as long throws continue to be a defining tactical trend.
The opening round of fixtures featured 33 long throws across the league, mirroring last season’s average of 3.9 per game. Expect Leeds to unleash a barrage of them at Elland Road on Sunday, especially against a side that may be unprepared for the extra aerial dimension. In other news, Gonzalo García, Fulham’s £34 million acquisition from Real Madrid, announced his arrival with a poacher’s finish against Chelsea and a solo strike in the Carabao Cup win over AFC Wimbledon.
He will look 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 sees Tottenham host Newcastle, while Sunday offers a packed slate: Chelsea versus Brighton, Leeds versus Brentford, and Sunderland versus Fulham, all live on Sky Sports+. Manchester United conclude the weekend with their clash against Ipswich at Old Trafford.
Finally, fans can look forward to a Monday Night Football showdown as Aston Villa welcome Arsenal to Villa Park on August 31. For those seeking extra excitement, the Super 6 competition offers a chance to win £1 million – entry is free.