It is often said that set-pieces are "the game of the game".

Starting with a static situation makes them completely different from the dynamics of the rest of football, but this can affect the state of the game regardless of the flow of the game.

Set pieces can provide a lifeline for a team under pressure to get back into the game. Or, on the worst offensive day, it could provide them with a sudden scoring opportunity. But only if you execute well.

After Saturday's 2-0 defeat at West Ham United, in which they failed to score in all competitions for the fourth straight game, a first since November 1992, it is an avenue United may need to take note of.

However, United have struggled in attacking set-pieces over the past few seasons - even after appointing Erik Ramsey as set-piece coach in July 2021. Since then, United have had three different managers (Michael Carrick, Ralf Aldonnick and Erik Ten Haag) lead the team and a common theme has been the club's failure to convert from set-piece chances.

When assessing United's goals from set pieces each season or seasons, using goals per 100 set pieces creates a fair and equal playing field between teams, as there may be more dead ball situations in one year than others, or one team may have more set piece chances than another.

In the interrupted 2021-22 season (when former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was replaced by Rannick - during which time Carrick served as interim manager), United finished third behind (2.7) in goals per 100 set pieces in the Premier League. Only relegated Watford and Norwich City have a lower ratio, and they are also the only teams in the league to have scored fewer goals from set pieces than United's seven.

The addition of other competitions did not change the situation. When comparing the number of goals scored per 100 set pieces across all Premier League teams in all competitions - excluding the Europa Conference League - United remain at the bottom of the table. They scored 3.4 goals per 100 set-pieces, better only than Brighton and Hove Albion, Watford and Norwich City.

After Ten Haag arrived the following summer, United finished third and won the League Cup, but despite the success, attacking set-pieces remained a problem.
Looking at the quality of chances created per 100 set pieces on average, United's expected goals per 100 set pieces (xG) dropped to 3.8 in 2021-22, compared to 4.2 in 2022-23. The same is true of the goal of scoring when considering the number of set-piece chances they had.

The ratio of three goals per 100 set-pieces is below their previous season's record and should be a cause for alarm going into 2023-24.

Four months into the season, United's set-pieces are still an area that has hampered the team's attack. Their expected goals per 100 set pieces is 3.1, which is lower than in the past two seasons.

Looking at goals from set pieces across all competitions, United are in the bottom half of the league in terms of goal/set piece ratio compared to other Premier League teams.

Digging deep into the data, it is clear that United's goals from set pieces in the Premier League are a problem. Since the 2021-22 season, United have had more than twice as many set-piece chances in the Premier League as in any other competition, but scored only two more goals - 16 in the Premier League and 14 in other competitions.

In other competitions, goals per 100 set pieces (4.7) are about twice as high as during Premier League games (2.5). But there are multiple factors at play here, not least the quality of the opposition.

Focusing on United's Premier League statistics, their ineffectiveness in attacking set pieces is clear. Since the 2021-22 season, only five teams that have played at least one full season in the Premier League have scored fewer goals, three have a lower expected goal ratio per 100 set pieces, and only two have scored fewer goals per 100 set pieces.

Both in turbulent seasons and in United's relatively successful ones, their record on attacking set pieces has been questionable.

Since 2019-20, United have scored no more than nine goals from set pieces in a single Premier League season - ignoring a valuable tool.

In recent seasons, the Premier League elite have capitalised on the importance of set-pieces, but United's efficiency has gone in the opposite direction. This season they have scored 2.1 goals per 100 set-pieces, the lowest since 2018-19.

United's problems on and off the pitch have been numerous this season, and will not end soon. However, attacking set-pieces could be the key to their recovery.

For a team who have scored three of the most important goals in the club's history from corners, it is ironic that their attacking set-pieces have performed so badly.