Premier League enters high-scoring season of counterattacks and long-range goals
The Premier League is experiencing a surge in goals and increasingly chaotic, end-to-end football this season, with scoring rising from 2.75 to 2.82 goals per game. The style of play has shifted markedly towards counterattacks and long-range strikes, whilst set-piece goals are declining despite more shots from dead-ball situations. If this trend continues, the 2026-27 season could become the second-highest scoring in Premier League history.
All clubs are covering greater distances per match than last season, reflecting the prevalence of transitional play and counterattacking football, with fast-break shots rising from 1.75 to 2.08 per game. Long-range goals have become increasingly common—Brighton have already nearly matched their entire 2025-26 tally—whilst close-range and set-piece goals have fallen significantly. The abundance of new managerial appointments at the start of the season appears to be contributing to this unpredictability, evidenced by 2-2 being the joint-most common scoreline, often featuring multiple lead changes rather than dominant performances.
- Goals rising, set-piece scoring declining across the league.
- Long-range shots and counterattacks reshaping Premier League tactics.
- New managers fuelling uncertainty and high-scoring draws early season.