Premier League teams winning with less possession than ever before

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 07:28 · Archive

Teams in the Premier League are winning matches with less possession than in previous years, marking a tactical shift away from possession-dominated football.

The Premier League's tactical approach is undergoing a significant shift, with teams increasingly winning matches despite having less possession than their opponents. Last season marked the first time since before Pep Guardiola arrived at Manchester City that the average possession figure for winning matches dropped below 50 per cent. This trend has continued into the current season, with the first 60 games showing possession figures for winning teams falling further.

The change represents a departure from the possession-obsessed philosophy that dominated English football over the past decade. Between 2016 and 2024, 12 of the 16 occasions when a team won at least 80 points saw them average at least 60 per cent possession. However, over the past two years this relationship has weakened significantly. Six teams currently in the Premier League's top half average less than 50 per cent possession, demonstrating early season success for low-possession sides.

Brighton's 3-0 victory over Arsenal exemplified the new tactical approach, with Brighton recording only 40 per cent possession in what was described as a pressing masterclass. These early results suggest the shift may represent more than random variation, though it remains early in the season with only six games played.

How it is being reported

• Revealed: The death of possession football as Premier League teams are winning games with less of the ball than ever before... and goalkeepers are playing out from the back lessJAMES SHARPE: The pendulum has swung. Football embraced the possession obsession, then began to rebel against it and, at last, is thriving in the face of it.Daily Mail Sport · 16 Oct, 07:04
• Is possession football dying? The tactical evolution transforming the Premier LeaguePossession has long been the Premier League’s currency but the balance of power is shifting, writes Lawrence Ostlere . In an era of relentless pressing, low blocks and devastating transitions, the team with the ball has never been more vulnerableIndependent Sport · 15 Oct, 10:49

In this story: Premier League · Pep Guardiola · Manchester City · Hull City · Brighton · Arsenal · Chelsea · Tottenham

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