A notable shift in Premier League tactics is underway, with an increasing number of teams achieving success despite holding less possession. Currently, six teams in the top half of the league table average under 50% possession, including Hull City, who average just 33%.
This trend marks a departure from the era between 2016 and 2024, when 12 of 16 teams winning at least 80 points averaged 60% possession or more. However, the last two years have seen a change, with the previous season being the first in two decades where more Premier League games were won by the team with less possession.
Recent title winners Liverpool and Arsenal both secured the league with significantly lower average possession compared to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in the four seasons prior. Even Guardiola reportedly moved away from his possession-heavy style in his final season, evolving City into a more direct team.
This movement away from controlled possession towards strategies like deliberate sabotage and baiting opponents into traps is also reflected globally. At the World Cup, 19 of 26 teams played in a low block more often in 2026 than in 2022, with winning teams regaining the ball faster.