Alternative Premier League Awards: A Season to Remember

Arsenal claimed the Premier League trophy after 22 years, defeating Manchester City in the penultimate gameweek. Pep Guardiola missed out on consecutive league titles for the first time since he began his managerial career in 2008. Individually, Brentford’s Igor Thiago challenged Erling Haaland of City, yet Haaland reclaimed the Golden Boot with 27 goals in the 2025-26 season. Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United led the Playmaker award with 21 assists, a record for a single campaign. Arsenal’s David Raya won the Golden Glove with 19 clean sheets.

Let’s explore some unique statistics and alternative awards to highlight various aspects of the league.

Most Improved Team: Manchester United

Manchester United saw drastic improvement from their 15th-place finish in 2024-25. Michael Carrick’s leadership took them 29 points higher than under Ruben Amorim, marking the largest advancement in the league. They were the solo team to increase their tally by over 12 points. In contrast, five teams saw reductions exceeding 15 points, with Liverpool as the largest underperformer from their title-winning season, dropping to fifth with 60 points. The loss of Diogo Jota contributed to their challenges, leading to a forgettable season.

Most Points Dropped from Winning Positions: Newcastle United

Newcastle United gave away 27 points from winning positions, the highest in the league. Eddie Howe’s team struggled to maintain consistency, often squandering leads. “We’ve become very passive and quite reactive,” Howe remarked after a loss to Sunderland. Nottingham Forest, however, stood strong with five draws and no losses from winning positions. Aston Villa excelled at recovering points from deficits, rallying to win 23 points after being down, culminating in a victory over Manchester City on their final day.

Stoppage-time Entertainers: Liverpool

Liverpool scored 10 goals in stoppage time but also conceded seven. The season was rife with dramatic ends, as seen when teenager Rio Ngumoha scored a memorable goal against Newcastle. Matches frequently ended with surprise goals, often altering the outcomes unexpectedly.

Set-piece Dynamos: Arsenal

The 2025-26 season was dominated by set pieces. Arsenal showcased strong set-piece strategies, excelling both offensively and defensively. They achieved a remarkable goal difference from set pieces, leading the league. Manchester United also performed well, but Arsenal’s defense was superior, making them stand out.

Box-throw Bandits: Crystal Palace

Long throws transformed matches this season, with Crystal Palace leading in this tactical approach. Jefferson Lerma and Chris Richards led efforts to deliver powerful throws into the penalty area, resulting in goals. A total of 43 goals came from such plays, showing the impact of this tactic.

Skewed Crossers: Spurs and Bournemouth

Teams relied heavily on one flank for cross plays. Tottenham preferred the right side, with Pedro Porro leading in crossing. Bournemouth opted for the left, enhanced by Adrien Truffert. Balanced attacks were seen in Villa, the only team with an equal split in crossing approaches.

Most Stable Squad: Everton

Everton achieved a stable squad performance, making minimal weekly changes under David Moyes. Moyes trusted core players and strategically used substitutes like Beto and Thierno Barry. In contrast, Chelsea showed instability with frequent changes, reflecting squad and managerial challenges.

Most Time Spent in a Low Block: Sunderland

Sunderland embraced a defensive strategy, spending significant time in a low block. Their tactical approach involved compact formations, crucial in their journey to a seventh-place finish and Europa League qualification.

Most Entertainment Value: Bournemouth

Bournemouth, with their vibrant and dynamic style, secured a historic place in European football. High possessions and tactical pressing made them a fan favorite, creating a memorable and thrilling viewing experience.

Individual Performances

Possession Retained Under Pressure: Ezri Konsa led with a 94% pass completion under pressure, crucial in man-for-man pressing games.

Most Two-footed Player: Rayan Cherki displayed ambidextrous skill with a nearly even distribution of touches between both feet.

Most Active Line-breaker: Adam Wharton excelled in breaking defensive lines, key to initiating attacks and benefiting his team greatly.

The season brought unique strategies and individual flair to the forefront, crafting an adventure for fans and players alike, setting the scene for what may come next year.