Which Premier League club is the most 'wasteful' with the ball? Where do Burnley, Everton and Sheffield United rank?
Ball possession has long been a strong tactic for fatiguing the opponent, breaking down defences and ultimately scoring goals.
Latest research found that even the biggest names in football can be unreliable on the ball, with some of the Premier League’s most renowned teams also among those most frequently dispossessed.
As the 2019/20 season drew to a close, the team at Compare.bet were intrigued to reveal exactly which figures fared worse on the ball and suffered the most dispossession, thus qualifying them as the most ‘wasteful’ Premier League clubs and players.
1. Crystal Palace
Total ball dispossessions: 479 Give the ball away every (average): 7 minutes and 8 seconds Photo: Catherine Ivill
2. Tottenham Hotspur
Total ball dispossessions: 437 Give the ball away every (average): 7 minutes and 49 seconds Photo: Adam Davy
3. Chelsea
Total ball dispossessions: 414 Give the ball away every (average): 8 minutes and 15 seconds Photo: Daniel Leal-Olivas
4. Norwich City
Total ball dispossessions: 405 Give the ball away every (average): 8 minutes and 26 seconds Photo: Peter Powell