The Premier League is entering the new season with some unexpected tactics that we haven’t typically seen at this level. Here, we explore four noticeable trends from the 2025-26 season.
This fresh Premier League season feels somewhat nostalgic.
Though only three matchdays have passed, several developments indicate a shift in Premier League football. Many of the patterns emerging now resonate with earlier styles.
Football tactics often cycle, and early indicators from 2025-26 suggest a return to play styles reminiscent of the Premier League’s inception.
While we’re not implying a complete revival of the 1990s, you’ll find that several elements are echoing classic strategies.
Revival of Long Throws
We’ve noted a significant rise in long throws—defined as those traveling at least 20 meters— with 11 out of 20 teams utilizing them in the opening weekend, compared to just four the previous season.
This trend doesn’t appear to be a fleeting one, as the average for long throws has reached 3.03 per game for this season, nearly doubling the rates of the past decade.
Long Passes from Goalkeepers
The recent transfer of Ederson to make way for Donnarumma has enhanced discussions around goalkeepers’ gameplay. While Donnarumma has solid ball skills, the shift signals potential tactical changes for Manchester City.
This season, 51.9% of goalkeeper passes have gone long, signifying a departure from recent trends where only 46.6% were long passes last season.
Outfield Players Taking Goal-Kicks
A notable development this season is outfield players opting to take goal-kicks directly upfield. Instances of such kicks have already doubled from last season, highlighting a strategic shift where they aim to surprise opponents.
Outfielders have historically passed to goalkeepers but seem more willing to play long this season, likely to catch opposition teams off-guard.
Kick-Offs Straight Out of Play
This season has introduced a new strategy where teams deliberately kick the ball directly out from kick-off to grant the opposition a throw-in deep in their half. This tactic mirrors strategies employed by Paris Saint-Germain, who were successful with it last season.
Thus far in 2025-26, there have been three occasions of this occurring, a significant increase compared to the previous five seasons combined. This trend appears focused on gaining territory rather than maintaining ball possession.
