Matt Ritchie of Newcastle United is challenged by Dwight McNeil of Burnley during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Burnley FC at St. James Park on February 29, 2020 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)Matt Ritchie of Newcastle United is challenged by Dwight McNeil of Burnley during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Burnley FC at St. James Park on February 29, 2020 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Matt Ritchie of Newcastle United is challenged by Dwight McNeil of Burnley during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Burnley FC at St. James Park on February 29, 2020 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Which Premier League club is the most 'wasteful' with the ball? Where do Burnley, Everton and Sheffield United rank?

The English Premier League boasts some of the finest footballing talent in the world, with many players renowned for their stubborn defences and firm control on the ball.
By Dan Black
Published 27th Aug 2020, 07:30 BST

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.

Total ball dispossessions: 479 Give the ball away every (average): 7 minutes and 8 seconds

1. Crystal Palace

Total ball dispossessions: 479 Give the ball away every (average): 7 minutes and 8 seconds Photo: Catherine Ivill

Photo Sales
Total ball dispossessions: 437 Give the ball away every (average): 7 minutes and 49 seconds

2. Tottenham Hotspur

Total ball dispossessions: 437 Give the ball away every (average): 7 minutes and 49 seconds Photo: Adam Davy

Photo Sales
Total ball dispossessions: 414 Give the ball away every (average): 8 minutes and 15 seconds

3. Chelsea

Total ball dispossessions: 414 Give the ball away every (average): 8 minutes and 15 seconds Photo: Daniel Leal-Olivas

Photo Sales
Total ball dispossessions: 405 Give the ball away every (average): 8 minutes and 26 seconds

4. Norwich City

Total ball dispossessions: 405 Give the ball away every (average): 8 minutes and 26 seconds Photo: Peter Powell

Photo Sales
Previous
1 / 5
Next Page
Related topics:Premier LeagueEvertonBurnleySheffield United

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.