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 errors leading to shots and goals last week, we dive into long- and short-passing sequences that result in goals.
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.
After 319 matches, the Premier League has seen 70 goals scored from sequences that involve nine or more passes. It would take some effort from the teams to eclipse the marks set in 2020-21, 2021-22 (both 98), 2018-19 (100), 2024-25 (105) or 2023-24 (118) in the 61 matches that remain.
This week’s Alternative Table ranks teams by their goals scored from sequences with at least nine passes, alongside their set-piece goals (including penalties). Key takeaways include:
- Manchester City lead the way with 14 goals from sequences of nine or more passes, but rank 17th for set-piece goals with 11.
- Arsenal rank first for set-piece goals with 25 and have scored four goals from sequences of nine or more passes.
- Brighton & Hove Albion are the only team yet to score from a sequence of nine or more passes. They are also 16th for set-piece goals, with 12.
- Including set pieces, Manchester United rank first for goals from sequences of two or fewer passes with 40, ahead of Arsenal (37).
Manchester City
Despite having seven games left to play, Pep Guardiola’s side have already eclipsed their tally of goals with nine or more passes from three of the last six seasons (11 in 2022-23 and 2024-25 and 13 in 2020-21). The 18 that their 2018-19 side — probably their most free-flowing side under Guardiola – managed, the most by a Premier League team across the last eight seasons, is within reach.
Nico O’Reilly’s opener against Chelsea at the weekend was the latest example. His second goal against Newcastle United in February was a thing of beauty too. The move lasted nearly a minute and a half and involved nine of the 10 outfielders across 20 passes before O’Reilly headed the ball home.
City celebrates O’Reilly’s opener against Chelsea (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
O’Reilly’s assist against Everton in October’s 2-0 win saw City move from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to an Erling Haaland headed goal in 30 seconds with 13 passes. That is the beauty of this City resurgence and illustrates the threat they will carry going forward.
More direct than before, City’s average passes per sequence of 4.6 is their lowest across the last eight seasons. Simultaneously, though, their ‘direct speed’ (how quickly they move the ball up the pitch) of 1.0 metres per second is not far off that of the 2018-19 team (1.2 metres per second).
Guardiola and City have adapted to a physical, direct league while not entirely giving up the passing repertoire that made them regular title winners.
Arsenal
Gabriel Jesus’ goal in a 4-1 win over Aston Villa in December was arguably Arsenal’s most well-constructed move this season. Starting with David Raya in goal, seven players made a total of nine passes to take the ball from one end to the other in 27 seconds.
Their opener in another 4-1 win — against Tottenham Hotspur in November — was similar but with more measured possession, with 19 passes across 70 seconds before Leandro Trossard’s finish.
Concerningly, those moments have come far too infrequently, especially when teams have pressed them high like Bournemouth did in their 2-1 win on Saturday. Arsenal have put together 14 sequences of nine or more passes that began in their own third and ended in shots — City have 28.
Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Zubimendi celebrate against Villa in December (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Arsenal’s 2022-23 side — considered their most free-flowing under Mikel Arteta — scored 16 goals from sequences of nine or more passes, a figure that dropped to 10 in 2023-24 and six in 2024-25. The 2022-23 team also scored 15 times from set pieces (excluding penalties), hinting at greater balance across both areas. That went up to 20 in 2023-24, dropped to 15 in 2024-25 and is at 19 this season.
The Premier League’s overall stylistic shift has been a factor, but the numbers and eye test hint at a shift towards control over creative freedom.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Fabian Hurzeler’s first season in charge saw Brighton score six times from sequences of nine or more passes, their second-best total across the past eight seasons (behind seven in 2023-24). It is a surprise, then, that they have not had a single goal of that nature in 2025-26.
It has not been for a lack of trying. Brighton have recorded 52 shots from sequences of nine or more passes, the fourth-most behind Manchester City (83), Chelsea (59) and Liverpool (57). Nottingham Forest, across two games, have been on the receiving end of nine such sequences, with Brighton easily manipulating their defensive structure.
They also have the joint-most goals from moves involving six to eight passes (seven goals, tied with Manchester City).
Set pieces have not offset that impact either. Having managed 22 goals from set pieces (including seven penalties) last season, they have scored just 12 times from these situations this season.
Manchester United
United are just behind Brighton for shots from sequences of nine or more passes and have also scored five times from these situations.
Their second goal against Arsenal at the Emirates in January was the most memorable of those. Four of the nine passes in the build-up to that goal were exchanged between Patrick Dorgu and Bruno Fernandes before the former thundered the ball home.
But United’s best work has come in the immediate aftermath of attacks breaking down, with Bruno Fernandes picking apart an unsettled defence. Casemiro’s goal against Leeds United on Monday is one of several examples. Mason Mount’s strike against Wolves below came from a similarly instinctive attack.
United’s set-piece prowess has played a part too, with only Arsenal managing more goals from these situations than their 23.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth have recorded 41 shots from sequences of 0-5 passes that begin in their own third, more than any other team. They have had only nine sequences of nine or more passes end in a shot, which matches their 2024-25 total but is behind 2023-24 (15 each).
Andoni Iraola, who will depart this summer, has been one of the Premier League’s best coaches since his arrival in 2023. While the direct transitional style has been his trademark, the 2025-26 Bournemouth have also shown they can be more measured in possession, showcasing his versatility.
Only Manchester City (seven), Everton (four) and Liverpool (three) have scored more than their two goals following sequences of nine or more passes that began in the middle third. Simultaneously, no team has scored more goals from the same situation, but with under two passes, than their eight.
Iraola exits after making Bournemouth a versatile team capable of working through teams through direct play and intricate passing.
Burnley
Sticking to a pragmatic approach may not have helped them secure Premier League survival, but Burnley have scored four times from sequences with nine or more passes, already eclipsing the three by Vincent Kompany’s 2023-24 side.
The most memorable of those came in their 1-1 draw with Liverpool in January. Burnley won the ball high up the pitch — a rarity this season — to initiate an 11-pass sequence that ended with Marcus Edwards lashing the ball home.
Scott Parker’s side have scored eight times from sequences with three to five passes, only bettered by four teams. Jaidon Anthony’s strikes against Manchester City away in September and United at home in January came from intricate short-passing moves in the final third.
Liverpool
Between 2018-19 and 2022-23, Liverpool managed nine or more goals from sequences with nine or more passes in four different seasons, with 2020-21 (three) proving an aberration.
In Arne Slot’s first season, they matched that lower end, but that has dropped to four this season, with zero this calendar year. Opposition teams have set up better to cut the defence’s access to Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister. The departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold means they have struggled for a quality out-ball when forced sideways.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s goal in a 3-3 December draw with Leeds was arguably their best of the season from a passing standpoint. On that occasion, Curtis Jones dropping between the centre-backs created the opportunity for Gravenberch to receive between the lines after eight passes at the back. From here, he assists Szoboszlai via a Mac Allister dummy.
These moments of fluidity have not been as rare, with their 57 shots from such sequences on course to match their two title-winning seasons (61 from 2019-20 and 65 from 2024-25). But they have missed too many chances, with Liverpool’s 10 per cent shot-to-goal conversion rate their lowest mark in the last eight seasons.
Aston Villa
Villa scored 10 goals from sequences with nine or more passes in 2024-25, their highest in the league in the last seven seasons. The fall-off from that has been steep.
Their only goal this season from a move of that type came in the 2-1 win over Burnley in October. That move was exactly nine passes long across 22 seconds as Villa found pockets in midfield to pass into before Morgan Rogers set up Donyell Malen.
Villa also generated three shots from sequences of nine or more passes that began in their own third in both 2023-24 and 2024-25, patiently creating gaps to exploit. They are yet to create even one of those this season.
Brentford
No team has registered more shots from sequences that began in their own third and lasted fewer than two passes than Brentford. Five of those 24 shots ended in goals, also a league high.
Brentford are the league’s best at creating high-quality chances through direct football. Their goal against Chelsea in September, scored by Kevin Schade, is a great example of how good they are in these situations thanks to the positioning and technical ability of their players to execute plans.
Building a team to profit from direct football means they are also excellent from set pieces, scoring 15 times from these including a league-high five goals from throw-ins.
Chelsea
Ranking behind only Manchester City, Chelsea have scored six goals from sequences with nine or more passes.
Two of those came in the same match, a 4-1 win at Aston Villa in March, and followed a similar pattern. Liam Rosenior’s side passed around the back to suck Villa in before a long pass from Moises Caicedo to players in space opened the field up, eventually ending in Joao Pedro scoring.
Under Enzo Maresca and Rosenior, Chelsea have largely preferred to keep their passes short. But they can go direct when needed too, with only Brentford (six) scoring more than their five goals from sequences that begin in their own third and last five or fewer passes.
Chelsea have also scored 20 times from set pieces, their third-most across the last eight seasons behind 21 in 2020-21 and 23 in 2023-24.
Everton
In the previous seven seasons, Everton scored more than three goals from sequences of at least nine passes just once — six in 2020-21 under Carlo Ancelotti. They are on five in 2025-26, showcasing the kind of build-up play few associate with them or David Moyes.
Their opener in the 3-0 win over Chelsea in March will be remembered for Beto’s deft finish, but it was the result of a nine-pass move across 29 seconds from a Vitalii Mykolenko throw-in. Michael Keane, James Tarkowski, Jake O’Brien, Idrissa Gueye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were all involved before James Garner set up Beto.
Beto scores against Chelsea in March (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Only Leeds (14) have generated fewer shots from sequences beginning in the defensive third and lasting five or fewer passes than Everton’s 17. Their charge for Europe is being helped by greater composure on the ball and a quality midfield.
Crystal Palace
Palace have scored three times from sequences of nine or more passes, already surpassing their tally from 2024-25 (two).
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s equaliser against Newcastle at the weekend came from a 36-second move that began with Dean Henderson. Nine players contributed to 14 passes, with only Adam Wharton and Ismaila Sarr not getting a touch.
Palace have created 18 shots from sequences of three to five passes that begin in their own third, the fifth most, often through quick short passes before getting forward in numbers using a dribble or switch of play. They are one of only four teams, however, to not score from any of these shots.
Fulham
Fulham rank first for shots from sequences of six to eight passes that begin in midfield with 26. They have also scored three times from these, with only Bournemouth (four) managing more.
Each of those goals have come in the final 20 minutes of games against Manchester United, Brighton and Palace. Kevin’s strike in the 3-2 defeat to United and Samuel Chukwueze’s equaliser in the 2-1 win over Brighton both began from throw-ins near the halfway line.
Against United, they switched the play from left to right before bringing it back to the left. A quick one-two between Kevin and Ryan Sessegnon led to the goal.
In the Brighton game, Fulham went backwards to the edge of their own box and dragged their opponents forward before Joachim Andersen went over the top to find Chukwueze beyond the last line to score.
Both goals are testaments to how Marco Silva’s tactically versatile side can hurt teams.
West Ham
Relying on the direct route this season, 32 of West Ham’s 40 goals (including set pieces) have come from moves with under two passes. Only two of those began in their own third, with Callum Wilson the scorer on both occasions.
At Bournemouth in November, Wilson chested down Alphonse Areola’s goal kick to score on the half-volley.
Three months earlier at Nottingham Forest, Crysencio Summerville latched onto a clearance near his box and fed El Hadji Malick Diouf, who crossed for Wilson to head home.
West Ham have scored just twice from moves of nine or more passes, same as 2024-25 and three fewer than 2023-24.
Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs have pieced together just one goal from moves of nine or more passes. They had not managed fewer than six in any of the previous seven seasons and recorded eight in 2023-24 and 11 in 2024-25 under Ange Postecoglou.
Their tally of 26 shots from these situations is comfortably the lowest, too, comfortably surpassing 2020-21’s figure of 52. The last two seasons saw them put up 73 and 58.
Spurs’ shift to a more direct style in possession and the season-long absence of their two best creative players — James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski — are factors. This squad has struggled to hold onto and progress the ball in equal measure.
Leeds
Shifting to a more direct style since November has paid dividends. Their 6.5 seconds and 2.1 passes per shot-ending sequence are both the lowest in the Premier League, but they are six points clear of the relegation zone.
Against Manchester United on Monday, however, short passes and a more composed style helped Leeds earn their first win at Old Trafford for 45 years.
Their two goals from sequences of nine or more passes have both come after Daniel Farke decided to minimize risks playing out from the back. Their opener at Sunderland in late December came from a 27-second, 12-pass move that involved all 11 players, ending with Brenden Aaronson assisting Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
All 11 @LUFC players were involved in Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s equaliser against Sunderland 👏 pic.twitter.com/XsLqe09RB0
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 28, 2025
Nottingham Forest
Forest’s four goals from sequences of nine or more passes have come under three managers. Ange Postecoglou, who oversaw 19 such goals across two seasons at Spurs, was the only manager not to produce one.
Two of those have come under current head coach Vitor Pereira in the past month. Their equaliser against Villa at the weekend came from a high turnover which was then played backwards. Four of the 11 passes in the lead-up to Neco Williams’ finish were shared by Elliot Anderson and Murillo in midfield.
Forest’s second goal in a 3-0 win over Spurs was the result of a 12-pass, 30-second move that began in their own half and was finished off by Morgan Gibbs-White.
They have managed 12 shots from sequences that begin in their defensive third and involve nine or more passes, a number bettered by only seven other teams.
Newcastle United
Among the league’s least direct teams, only Manchester City (28) have managed more shots from sequences that begin in the defensive third and involve nine or more passes than Newcastle. But City have also created 13 shots from sequences beginning in that area but involving two or fewer passes, two more than Newcastle.
Eddie Howe’s side have shown a commitment to playing through pressure. They have scored three times from moves of nine or more passes, with each of those starting in a different third of the pitch.
Against Brighton in October, Newcastle constructed a move from their own third that ended with Nick Woltemade’s backheeled finish. At Everton in February, they passed on the left before Joelinton crossed for Jacob Murphy on the right to score.
Most recently, in a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge, Newcastle won the ball in their attacking third but worked it backwards. It helped build a 17-pass move that involved every player except Woltemade and ended with Joe Willock assisting Anthony Gordon.
Gordon scores against Chelsea (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Sunderland
Well organised and physically rugged, 13 of Sunderland’s 33 goals have come from set pieces.
They rank second from bottom for shot-ending sequences of nine or more passes with 19 and have scored just once from an uninterrupted move that began in their defensive third. That came in their opening game of the season against West Ham when Wilson Isidor wrapped up a counter-attack to make it 3-0 from a move that contained just two passes.
Sunderland have scored twice from moves of nine or more passes, and both began in midfield. Nordi Mukiele’s goal at the weekend was one of those, with eight players involved. The other was their first goal of the season, also against West Ham, scored by Eliezer Mayenda.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Last season, Wolves scored six times from sequences of nine or more passes, but have managed just one this season. That came in a January win over West Ham, with Hwang Hee-chan assisting Jhon Arias’ only Premier League goal from a move that began from a throw-in on the halfway line.
They have generated the joint-fewest shots from moves with six or more passes (32, level with Brentford). Only Burnley (8.09 per 90) have registered fewer shots from moves involving zero to five passes than their 8.5 per 90.
Wolves are also bottom of the set-piece table with Nottingham Forest, scoring just nine times from dead-ball situations.
