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The Premier League has always been renowned for amazing set-piece takers. Many elite free-kick takers have graced the competition over the years. David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Dimitri Payet, Sebastian Larsson, and many others, have scored stunning goals from set-pieces.
Scoring from a free-kick requires immaculate technique, and it only gets difficult once a player develops a reputation for it. A lot of effort and hard work goes behind the scenes to convert free-kicks into goals.
The Premier League is blessed with some quality set-piece takers right now. On that note, here's a look at five such players:
#5 Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
At the age of 36, Ashley Young is still a very lively player on the pitch. After coming through the ranks at Watford, he started his career as a winger, primarily playing on the left flank.
The Englishman signed for Aston Villa in 2007, and became a big sensation. His superb dribbling combined with his deadly crosses made him a massive threat. It was with The Lions that he scored most of his career free-kicks.
Young moved to Manchester United in 2011, and was a key player for them. During his nine-year tenure with The Red Devils, he scored only a single free-kick, though. That came against his former side Watford. Overall, the English wing-back has scored six free-kicks in the Premier League.
#4 Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
The Icelander is probably one of the most underrated midfielders in the Premier League. Gylfi Sigurdsson has played most of his career in England.
He had an impressive spell at Swansea City in 2012 before signing for Tottenham Hotspur the next season. Sigurdsson returned to The Swans after two seasons with Spurs. His incisive passing and creative abilities proved very helpful, which also attracted the interest of Everton in the summer of 2017.
After four seasons with The Toffees, Sigurdsson was suspended by the club this summer following suspicion of alleged child sex offences in July. Nonetheless, the Iceland midfielder remains an efficient free-kick taker in the Premier League. He has scored seven goals through free-kicks in the competition.
#3 Juan Mata (Manchester United)
The Premier League has had some quality Spanish players in its history, and Juan Mata is certainly one of them. The Spaniard is blessed to have had the opportunity to play for two big English clubs - Chelsea and Manchester United.
Having signed for Chelsea in 2011, Mata hardly needed any time before making a significant impact. The left-footed playmaker has been one of the most creative players in the Premier League. He played a key role in helping the London club win the FA Cup, UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League during his two-and-a-half-season tenure.
Mata joined Manchester United in 2013, and since then, he has been with them. With The Red Devils, he has been a key player, but has struggled to get regular game time lately. Nevertheless, the Spaniard has been vital for the Premier League giants. During his 11 seasons in England, he has scored eight free-kicks.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
There are not many players who have been as successful as Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese captain is widely regarded as one of the best players to have graced the game. He is still going strong at the age of 36.
It all started for him when he moved to Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon in 2003. Ronaldo turned from a boy-wonder into one of the finest players in the game. His mind-boggling dribbling, superb creativity and goalscoring abilities made him a beast in United's attack.
Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford this summer after a six-season stint in the 2000s. The Portuguese is renowned for his phenomenal ability to score free-kicks. The former Real Madrid superstar has nine Premier League free-kick goals, a number that could go up this season.
#1 James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
James Ward-Prowse has been one of the most consistent and effective set-piece takers in the Premier League for the past few years. Having come through the ranks at Southampton, the Englishman has been a one-club man in his 11-year career.
The 27-year old can play as a central midfielder as well as an attacking midfielder. His strength lies in his accurate and incisive passing. Ward-Prowse is a very reliable player when it comes to taking set-pieces. He is renowned for creating and scoring free-kick goals.
He has scored ten free-kicks in the Premier League. He ranks second-best in the all-time free-kick scoring charts, only one goal behind former Sunderland player Sebastian Larsson.
