Welcome to the latest edition of The Alternative Premier League Table, where each week, The Athletic analyses the entire division through a specific lens.
After looking at dribbling in last week’s edition, this week we will be looking at the amount of time each team has the ball in play.
As usual, the article that follows is long but detailed, so please settle down and enjoy it all — or use the index at the bottom of the page to jump to a specific club.
The league-wide emphasis on maximising set pieces and winning second balls has meant teams now go through detailed routines that often eat time off the clock. The increase in stoppage time also means time-wasting remains a key part of the game.
All of this has resulted in teams spending a sizeable chunk of matches with the ball out of play.
This week’s Alternative Table is ordered on average ball-in-play time for each team, along with the percentage change in that figure from 2024-25.
Key takeaways include:
- Bournemouth (52:56) and Tottenham Hotspur (53:21) rank bottom for ball-in-play time.
- Manchester City (58:39), Liverpool (57:09) and Arsenal (56:42) rank as the top three.
- City have, however, undergone the biggest change from 2024-25 to 2025-26, with their ball-in-play time dropping by nearly five per cent.
- Nottingham Forest are the only team to record a positive change, with their ball-in-play time rising by more than one per cent.
Nottingham Forest
The difference in Forest’s ball-in-play time can be explained by a few factors.
In 2024-25, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side took the lead 27 times, a total only bettered by Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City. They lost just two of those games, defending resolutely with 90 clearances going out of play, the most by any team and second most by a team in the last five completed seasons (behind Arsenal’s 96 in 2022-23).
This season, however, Forest rank 18th of 20 in games led, only ahead of Burnley (five) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (four). They have trailed in 16 games, which means they have had long spells of possession with the ball in play as part of their attempts to break teams down.
Tottenham Hotspur
Moving from Ange Postecoglou’s possession-dominant style to Thomas Frank’s more pragmatic approach has been reflected in many of Tottenham’s numbers this season, including this metric. Their drop in ball-in-play time of nearly three per cent from 2024-25 to 2025-26 is the fourth most in the league.
Arguably the biggest change has been their choreographed long throw-ins in the attacking third, with time required for their defenders to push up the pitch. Of the throws they have taken in the final third, 38 per cent have gone into the box; a significant increase on the three per cent from 2024-25.
Postecoglou’s Spurs often tried to play out of danger, averaging just 18.6 long balls per 90 in the defensive third, compared to 30.1 under Frank this season.
Manchester City
City remain the team with the highest average ball-in-play time but their pivot towards more fast-paced, vertical football has had its say.
The drop in their ball-in-play time is seismic and aligns well with the increases in long balls (37.3 per 90 from 36.0 in 2024-25), clearances (22.4 per 90 from 15.2) and tackles committed on either flank (12 per 90 from 10.1).
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
In 2024-25, City were involved in seven of the 10 matches in which the ball was in play for the most time. This season, that has dropped to two, with Pep Guardiola’s team happier to cede territory and drop into a defensive block while taking their time with throw-ins, corners and free kicks.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth’s style has always lent itself to the ball running out of play. In possession, their preference is to play long to the wings and operate close to the bylines, while without the ball, they aim to direct play out wide before snapping in to make tackles.
Since the start of 2024-25, their 20.4 throw-ins conceded ranks first among all teams. At the other end, their 18.6 throw-ins won per 90 ranks only behind Tottenham (19.1) and Liverpool (18.8).
Their 1-1 home draw with Manchester United last April saw them win 24 throws and concede 21 in a game where the ball was in play for just 48 minutes and 44 seconds, the 10th-least in 2024-25.
This season, their 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa, a match with 37 throw-ins overall, saw just 45 minutes and 48 seconds of the ball being in play, the lowest of the campaign so far. Bournemouth were also involved in two more of the top-six games in terms of ball-in-play time: against Manchester United (46:12) and Crystal Palace (48:09).
Arsenal
Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have built an online reputation as the masters of the dark arts, often due to taking their time with dead-ball situations. In October, Opta explained that they had taken an average time of 45.2 seconds between winning and taking a corner, the second most behind Sunderland (49.5).
Since the start of 2023-24, their 25 yellow cards for time-wasting ranks second behind Chelsea’s 35. There has been a clear progression in their clearances too, climbing from 12.5 per 90 (2.6 out of play) in 2023-24 and 16.8 (3.6) in 2024-25 to 22.4 (4.5) this season.
They have had the most unsuccessful through balls in the league at 2.4 per 90, with seven in total (from seven different players) running out of play. That is nearly double the next-best team (Liverpool and Aston Villa with four).
Interestingly, Arsenal were involved in the game with the most ball-in-play time so far this season — 66 minutes and 14 seconds in the 1-0 win over Everton in December. That fixture experienced a complete reversal from 2024-25 when the ball-in-play time was just 44:09 (less than one half) in their April meeting, the worst of that season.
Brentford
Brentford rank third from bottom for ball-in-play time at 53:59, with the more than three per cent drop from 2024-25 placing them third in that metric.
The focus on set pieces, first under Frank and now under Keith Andrews, has played a part. Among the 17 teams to have played all 60 matches across both seasons, their 54 per cent share of final-third throws that went into the box ranks first. Opta’s October numbers suggested that Brentford led the way in terms of delays before a throw-in at an average of 25.4 seconds, with Tottenham next on 21.5.
Brentford’s 4.8 passes per 90 in the opposition half to go out of play are third behind Bournemouth (5.95) and Newcastle United (4.9). Their 77 per cent passing accuracy within the final third is only better than Palace’s 75 per cent.
Kristoffer Ajer and Sepp van den Berg rank first and seventh this season in clearances out of play per 90 with 2.1 and 1.5 respectively.
Everton
Everton lead the league in throw-ins to go out of play with five. Vitalii Mykolenko has been the culprit twice, while Nathan Patterson, Jake O’Brien and James Garner have all contributed one apiece.
Everton’s Mykolenko (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
From goal kicks, however, they have managed to keep the ball in play. Jordan Pickford is one of only three goalkeepers with 900 or more minutes yet to send a goal kick out of play alongside Emiliano Martinez and Bart Verbruggen.
Everton have been involved in four of the top 10 matches for ball-in-play time, with their 1-0 loss to Arsenal (ball-in-play time of 66 minutes and 14 seconds) taking top spot. Their matches at Manchester City (64:00) and Forest (63:35) and at home to Newcastle (62:31) are also part of the list.
Greater on-ball quality with Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Merlin Rohl has been a factor. David Moyes’ side are also attempting a lower share of long balls than last season (14 per cent, down from 16).
Sunderland
Sunderland lead all teams for passes in their own half running out of play at 2.2 per 90 and are third for the same in the opposition half at 5.4 per 90.
In terms of volume, however, this has not hurt them massively. No team plays a higher percentage of forward passes (37 per cent) than Regis Le Bris’ side, who are relentless in moving the ball towards the opposition goal. Nordi Mukiele, who leads the league with 12 passes out of play in his own half, has also been one of the division’s standout defenders at both ends.
Sunderland’s ball-in-play time has only marginally dropped from their 2024-25 Championship campaign, having largely stuck to their guns while improving their squad.
They have added weapons to their arsenal too, with 59 per cent of their throw-ins in the final third going into the box, nearly 12 times the five per cent from last season. Twenty-nine per cent of their total shots have come from set pieces, the highest in the league.
Crystal Palace
Palace are averaging 2.8 passes into the attacking third per 90 that have run out of play, their most in the last eight seasons and the joint-highest this season with Brentford. Their 4.3 long balls and 7.4 clearances out of play per 90 are the highest in the league too.
Passing accuracy within the final third has been a problem too, particularly as teams sit deeper against them and force them to thread the needle. Palace have completed just 59 per cent of their passes in that area, the lowest in the league. In the last five seasons, that would rank 97th out of 100 teams.
Oliver Glasner’s side have been especially erratic with their long passes, with 4.3 such efforts travelling out of play per 90, the worst in the league. Among outfielders, Adam Wharton ranks joint-second with 16 such passes.
Liverpool
Liverpool have been involved in three of the top 10 games with the most ball-in-play time this season, with each of those taking different directions of travel.
The 2-0 win over Brighton (ball in play for 65:04) saw them score in the first minute and largely control proceedings, with both teams keen to attack (32 total shots). In the 2-2 draw with Fulham (63:52), they chased the game and scored late with 58 per cent possession before conceding again.
The 0-0 draw with Arsenal (63:05) saw neither team show much attacking intent, with just 15 total shots, and largely pass in front of resolute blocks of defenders.
Overall, this version of Liverpool has been more creative, often not by choice as they have been in losing game states. They have attempted more through-balls (2.4 per 90 vs 1.8), passes into the attacking third (66.6 per 90 vs 60.1) and passes within the attacking third (143.1 vs 126.0 per 90).
That, and a new attack taking time to gel, have led to a higher rate of the ball going out of play. Liverpool are conceding 16.7 throw-ins per 90 (up from 14.97), while playing more passes out of play in the opposition half (5.3 per 90 vs 3.9).
Fulham
No outfield player has played more long balls out of play than centre-back Joachim Andersen (20). Fulham have encouraged these passes with Andersen’s 1.5 switches of play per 90 the highest among centre-backs, but the team overall has regressed in their accuracy with switches, dropping to 72 per cent from 82 in 2024-25.
Behind him, Bernd Leno leads all goalkeepers in crosses punched out of play with three. He pushed corners against Newcastle and Brentford out for throws while tipping Matheus Cunha’s cross over the bar in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
At the other end, this has been Fulham’s least accurate campaign in front of goal since their promotion in 2022, with only 31 per cent of their shots on target.
Newcastle United
Only Forest (18.9) have attempted more open-play crosses per 90 than Newcastle’s 18.6 per 90.
Their 21 per cent success rate, however, ranks 11th, with 30 crosses travelling out of play, the joint-most with Chelsea. Jacob Murphy and Bruno Guimaraes have been responsible for five each, while Anthony Gordon has had four. Seven of their corners have flown out of play too, the most in the league.
Newcastle have also brought into the set-piece wave, with 21 per cent of their throws in the final third going into the box (up from under one per cent in 2024-25). Thirty-four per cent of their league goals this season have come from set pieces, nearly double the 19 per cent from last campaign.
Newcastle have been involved in two of the five worst games in terms of ball-in-play time: the 3-2 loss to Liverpool (45:55) and 2-2 draw with Chelsea (47:40). They were also part of the fifth-worst game in this regard last season — a 2-1 home win over Tottenham in September 2024 where the ball was in play for just 46 minutes and 57 seconds.
Manchester United
Manchester United are tied with Liverpool for the most passes within the attacking third to go out of play on 2.1 per 90. Casemiro and Patrick Dorgu have been their worst offenders in this regard with five such passes, while Luke Shaw and Bruno Fernandes have four each.
They have been good in getting into that area of the pitch, however, with only 1.6 of their passes into the attacking third per 90 running out of play, the least in the league.
United rank fourth from bottom for ball-in-play time at 54:19, down nearly four per cent from 57:31 in 2024-25. A greater commitment to long balls (11 per cent long ball share, up from under 10 per cent) has played its part and could continue under Michael Carrick, especially against the big teams.
The 2-0 win over Manchester City saw United record a long-ball share of 15 per cent, their second-highest in the league behind the 26 per cent they recorded in the 2-1 win at Liverpool in October.
Burnley
Like Sunderland, Burnley’s ball-in-play time has not changed too much from their successful Championship campaign in 2024-25. The game between the two teams in August, in fact, was the seventh best in this regard at 63 minutes and 23 seconds.
Burnley have the second-worst passing accuracy in the league at 78 per cent. Kyle Walker is fifth among outfielders for passes out of play with 22 and the worst at switches out of play with eight.
Behind him, Martin Dubravka has sent 11 goal kicks out into touch, at least three more than second-placed Djordje Petrovic of Bournemouth.
Chelsea
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez has sent 37 passes out of play this season, more than any other player.
No Chelsea outfielder is in the top 10 and only Reece James (19) in 11th makes the top 25. But they have been the league’s worst team in passes running out of play in the defensive third at 3.1 per 90. Marc Cucurella (seven) and Malo Gusto (five) have been the most culpable in this regard.
Chelsea have led in 15 matches this season, behind only Manchester City (17) and Manchester United and Arsenal (16 each). Being in a winning game state has allowed them to eat up clock with delays from set pieces and stoppages too.
West Ham United
Only Burnley and Wolves (18) have been in losing game states more often than West Ham on 17. That has warranted keeping the ball in play and attempting to break teams down, which they have not excelled at.
West Ham have put 5.2 passes in the opposition half per 90 and 3.9 long balls per 90 out of play, both their highest marks in the last four seasons. Their 56 per cent accuracy from switches is the worst in the league too and is down from an average of 79 per cent over the previous three seasons.
West Ham have also conceded 6.4 corners per 90, the most in the league. Those have led to stoppages in play and often, goals for their opponents.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton have typically enjoyed keeping the ball in play.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side were involved in the game with the second-most ball-in-play time so far this season — 65:04 in their 2-0 loss to Liverpool. Their 2-1 win over Manchester City in November 2024 led that list for the 2024-25 season with a ball-in-play time of 67 minutes and 28 seconds.
The minor decrease in their ball-in-play time average this season could be explained through some individual errors.
Brighton have sent five corners and four wide free kicks out of play, with the latter figure the highest in the league. Centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke leads all players in passes out of play in the middle third with 16.
Van Hecke has been wasteful at times (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Wolverhampton Wanderers
According to Opta’s October report, Wolves took the least time on average between winning and taking corners (29.0 seconds) and throw-ins (12.7 seconds) and to restart play (24.1 seconds). This is despite the team attempting a higher share of throws into the box from the final third (26 per cent, up from four in 2024-25) and having more set plays (6.3 per 90 from 5.5).
Wolves rank third in passes put out of play in their defensive third (2.7 per 90). Opponents have averaged 10.95 throw-ins per 90 in Wolves’ half, only behind the teams faced by Arsenal (11.3).
Rob Edwards’ side have the second-worst field tilt (a team’s share of possession in the final third) at 40 per cent, down from 43 in 2024-25. Teams have pinned them into their defensive area more often, resulting in rushed clearances (5.9 out of play per 90 out of play). Wolves also make the second-most tackles on the wings (15.6 per 90, behind Spurs’ 15.7), leading to more balls running out of play.
Leeds United
Leeds’ ball-in-play time has dropped only fractionally from their Championship campaign last season, but this is a wholly different team.
Their share of long passes has risen from seven to 13 per cent, and average passes per sequence of possession have dropped from 4.1 to 3.1. Daniel Farke’s side have been one of the league’s best sides from offensive set pieces, which have accounted for 40 per cent of their goals (up from 14 per cent in 2024-25).
Left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson trails only Pedro Porro (13) among defenders in total crosses sent out of play with seven. His counterpart on the other flank, Jayden Bogle, is not far behind on five.
Aston Villa
No player has picked up more yellow cards for time-wasting across the last five seasons than Emiliano Martinez (14). Ezri Konsa ranks third amongst outfielders with six.
Villa under Unai Emery have typically liked to play quickly, progressing through the thirds at pace, often through the middle. That can often catch teams off guard, with three of their players in the top 20 for fouls won this season. All three — John McGinn (2.1 fouls won per 90), Youri Tielemans, and Boubacar Kamara (both 1.9 per 90) — are the connectors in central midfield.
The three games with the most fouls by a single team this season have been against Villa, with Wolves (21 fouls committed) and Bournemouth and Forest (20 each) the culprits.
The Bournemouth game saw the ball in play for just 45 minutes and 48 seconds. Villa’s 0-0 draw with Everton in September saw 32 fouls made overall by both teams, with the ball in play for just 49 minutes and 17 seconds, the seventh-worst game in terms of ball-in-play time.
