Premier League

This tactical analysis of Brighton vs Bournemouth in the Premier League 2025/2026 examines a clash of contrasting game models at the Amex Stadium. Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton dominated possession and territory for large periods, while Andoni Iraola's side combined aggressive first-half pressing with a deep second-half low block in an attempt...

The role of full-backs playing in a back four can be one of, if not the most, tactically fluid positions on the pitch.  Even within the same formation, across any league on any given matchday, you will see full-backs being asked to take up various positions on the field and...

Saturday's Manchester Derby delivered far more than just another fixture in the Premier League calendar; it was a compelling emotional matchup in motion between Manchester United and Manchester City. The two teams, respectively under the watchful eyes of newly appointed interim manager Michael Carrick and Pep Guardiola, approached this contest...

When both Joško Gvardiol and Rúben Dias were forced off due to injuries in Manchester City’s Premier League clash against Chelsea at the beginning of January, it put the club in a tricky situation. With Dias out multiple weeks, Gvardiol potentially for the rest of the season, and with John...

Eddie Howe has overseen one of the most impressive transformations in modern Premier League history since arriving at Newcastle United. He inherited a side fighting relegation and reshaped it into one defined by intensity, physical dominance, and emotional energy. The Toon became one of the most challenging teams to face...

Manchester City were coming off back-to-back draws and desperate for three points to keep pace with Arsenal at the top of the table. Brighton had been on their own bad run coming into the match. Their win over Burnley this weekend was their first win in seven matches, as they...

Burnley hosted Manchester United in Gameweek 21 of the 2025/2026 Premier League season, and the match ended with an entertaining 2-2 draw that does not serve the Red Devils that much. Manchester United’s sudden change of head coach and appointment of Darren Fletcher as an interim coach suggests that a...

Quilindschy Hartman was one of the most admired young full-backs/wing-backs in Europe two years ago when Total Football Analysis last scouted the Dutchman. Hartman was a key part of Arne Slot’s Feyenoord side that won the Eredivisie in 2022/2023 and won the KNVB Cup in 2023/2024. The left-back was heavily...

Marco Silva began his senior coaching career at Estoril (2011/2014), managing 116 matches with 1.66 PPM, building his reputation in Portugal. He stepped up to Sporting CP (2014/2015), coaching 53 matches at 2.08 PPM, showing immediate impact at a bigger club. He moved to Olympiacos (2015;2016), where he delivered his...

Manchester City welcomed Chelsea in Gameweek 20 of the 2025/2026 Premier League season. The affair ended in a 1-1 draw as Tijjani Reijnders’ 42nd-minute strike was equalised by Enzo Fernández at 90’+4. This was Chelsea’s first outing after head coach Enzo Maresca’s dismissal, which rendered it a crucial fixture to bolster...

Since his return, David Moyes has done a brilliant job at Everton. He has stabilised the side, restored a clear structure, and given the club its identity back. The Toffees now look organised, competitive, and difficult to play against with a much clearer understanding of what they are trying to...

Chelsea has recently announced their decision to part ways with the Italian head coach, Enzo Maresca, following reported tension between the management and the head coach. The decision comes at a surprising time and raises many questions about Chelsea’s future, short-term objectives, and results. Taking such crucial decisions at a...

Arsenal continued their winning streak by defeating Aston Villa in Gameweek 19 of the 2025/2026 Premier League season. With this victory at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners have held onto top spot in the table. From Aston Villa’s perspective, this result brought their winning run to an end. However, their...

It’s been a bit of a rough season for Liverpool. The Reds were coming off a Premier League title and spent €482.9m on transfers during the summer window, only to be fighting for fourth place at the halfway point in the season. There has been a ton of drama around...

Axel Disasi joined Chelsea in the summer of 2023 for a €45m fee, but has not been able to make the impact Chelsea fans, owners, or even himself were looking for. Disasi started off quite well in his first season at the club, playing 31 Premier League matches and 2,581...

Chelsea were defeated by Aston Villa 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in Gameweek 18 of the 2025/2026 Premier League season. It was a game of two halves, where Chelsea controlled the first 45 minutes, having a lion’s share of ball possession (71%). They had 10 shots compared to none from their opponents, out...

Arsenal secured the top spot in the Premier League after defeating Brighton & Hove Albion in Gameweek 18 of the 2025/2026 season. The Gunners hosted Brighton at the Emirates Stadium, aiming to get back quickly to the top of the table, especially after the win of their direct competitor, when...

Japan’s rise as a developer of technical midfielders has felt inexorable for a decade, and the J.League pipeline keeps delivering. The case studies are already familiar. Kaoru Mitoma left Kawasaki Frontale for Brighton, and Takefusa Kubo has played for two of the biggest clubs in Spain. Ao Tanaka, 27, belongs in...

Reece James was getting shouts of being the best right-back in the world a few years ago, but numerous hamstring injuries slowed his consistent game time. Now that he is getting back to speed and playing 26 games this season and 1739 minutes so far, some speculate he is getting...

It may be tough to cast your mind back to the chaotic summer transfer window, but the moves that Premier League clubs desperately pushed for now look very different in the context of the season. It was the summer of hotly tipped and hotly chased strikers. If you take a...