Welcome to the latest edition of The Alternative Premier League Table, where each week, The Athletic analyses the entire division through a specific lens.
After studying defensive errors that have led to shots and/or goals last week, this week we are looking at the impact substitutes are making at each club.
As usual, the article that follows is long but detailed, so please settle down and enjoy it all — or use the index at the bottom of the page to jump to a specific club.
Premier League managers have never had so many options. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, they have been permitted to change up to five players during each game, allowing them — in most games — to swap out up to 50 per cent of their outfielders.
But with such power comes responsibility. Too many tweaks and a team’s plan can fall apart. Too few and the starting XI can become fatigued. Substitutions also shine a light on a team’s squad strength. The best sides will have players who can come on and impact games, people so important to their side’s fortunes that they are, to coin a contemporary phrase, termed ‘finishers’ by their managers.
So with that in mind, this week’s table is ordered by the goal involvements (goals plus assists) provided by substitutes at each Premier League club this season, plus the average minute that each team’s manager makes his first change — a figure that varies more than you might think.
Key takeaways from this week’s table include:
- On average, no side makes their first change earlier in games than Arsenal
- Eddie Howe’s tactic of using a stoppage-time substitute to see out Newcastle games
- A reluctance to use substitutions and Manchester City, and a susceptibility to opponents who do
- Everton, the only Premier League team without a goal contribution from the bench in 2025-26
- Should Liverpool use Federico Chiesa more?
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta’s squad is the strongest it has been. This summer, they strengthened across the pitch, including the additions of Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres, Cristhian Mosquera and Martin Zubimendi. With that unprecedented depth, Arteta is leaning hard on his bench. No Premier League side makes their first substitution earlier, and Arsenal’s substitutes now play almost 10 per cent of available minutes, the highest share during Arteta’s reign.
Recognising the calibre of talent waiting in the wings, Arteta is one of those managers who have rebranded substitutes as “finishers”. And they have lived up to the name, delivering in crucial moments during their title charge.
Mikel Merino equalised off the bench at Newcastle, while fellow substitute Martin Odegaard’s corner was headed in by Gabriel for the winner. Two subs combined to rescue a 1-1 draw in stoppage time against Manchester City, when Eze’s dinked through ball was chipped in by Gabriel Martinelli.
As Arsenal chase glory on all fronts, Arteta believes that “the finishers are going to be more important this season than the starters”.
Substitute Gabriel Martinelli scores against Manchester City after receiving a pass from a fellow ‘finisher’ (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Manchester City
Despite the wealth of options at his disposal, Pep Guardiola is often hesitant to call on his bench. This season, and in each of the last five, his first substitution has come later than the Premier League average. That reluctance shows in the lack of impact from City’s bench — only new signing Rayan Cherki has contributed, with an assist against Leeds United and a goal against Wolves.
Instead, it’s opposition substitutes who are enjoying themselves most against City. After Samuel Chukwueze’s two goals for Fulham on Tuesday, opponents’ bench players have now scored six times against City, the most in the league.
During City’s dominant spell from 2017-18 to 2023-24, when they won six of seven league titles, Guardiola barely needed to make changes — the starting lineup sailed through games. But given City’s current status as shaky, unconvincing title challengers, maybe he does.
Chelsea
It’s no secret that Chelsea have spent heavily, and often, since the Todd Boehly-led BlueCo consortium took control of the club. Integrating those signings, developing them to Premier League standard and finding the right balance on the pitch is the major challenge facing head coach Enzo Maresca.
But it’s one he is handling impressively: Chelsea sit fourth in the league, and his frequent rotation — both in-game and between matches — has helped him manage the squad. No side has given a higher share of minutes to its bench, and while the impact has been limited, with just four goal contributions, it has kept Maresca’s squad fresh and hungry, if not perfect — as they found out at Leeds this week.
Aston Villa
Unai Emery made the season’s most instant-impact change on Wednesday, introducing Donyell Malen, who scored with his first touch in what turned out to be the game-winning goal in their 4-3 victory over Brighton.
It was simply the latest example of Villa’s bench influencing matches. Malen and Ross Barkely scored from the bench to seal Villa’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Bournemouth, while Emiliano Buendia scored two goals from the sideline, one a match-winner away to Tottenham Hotspur.
Substitutes have now scored 31 times in Emery’s 115 games, and a major part of his ability to shift momentum from the bench is the timing of his changes. As the graphic below shows, Villa have consistently made early substitutions since the Spaniard took charge in 2022-23.
Manchester United
Match-changing substitutes feel like a distant memory at Manchester United. Under Ruben Amorim, not a single player has scored off the bench this season. Gone are the moments of Federico Macheda bending a title race with a stoppage-time strike.
The former United striker’s four goals as a substitute eclipse the entire tally of United’s current squad. Only Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee and Amad have scored a Premier League goal off the bench for United.
Amorim does bring on centre-forwards more than any other position, with strikers accounting for 24 per cent of all available substitute minutes. But his two options there — Zirkzee and the injured £66.4million ($89m) summer signing Benjamin Sesko — are both struggling for form and/or fitness. Beyond that, he rarely alters his attacking midfielders, instead choosing to freshen up the base of midfield or the wing-backs.
Only academy defender Ayden Heaven has provided a contribution from the bench this season, assisting Bryan Mbeumo’s second in their 4-2 home win against Brighton.
Everton
Everton remain the only Premier League team without a single goal contribution from their bench. They have also made the league’s most frequent switch: Thierno Barry and Beto have replaced one another 12 times.
It’s hard to dismiss these two facts as uncorrelated. Both forwards are shorn of belief — Beto has one league goal, and Barry is still searching for his first for the club since joining from Villarreal. Barry, in particular, has shown real endeavour, competing well physically up front on his own, and deserves to see that work rate rewarded with a goal.
With Everton’s positive start, David Moyes will care little, but getting a tune out of his misfiring centre-forwards remains a priority.
Sunderland
Sunderland’s resoundingly successful return to the Premier League — currently sixth with 23 points — has been driven by an influx of new signings, spending over £100million on 11 additions this summer. Some have made their mark from the bench, including Brian Brobbey with two goals, but the real clue behind their success is who stays on the pitch.
Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki are the all-action, central midfield powerhouse behind this surge, and head coach Regis Le Bris rarely breaks up the duo. Captain Xhaka has yet to be substituted; Sadiki has not been withdrawn before the 80th minute. How long this wild, unexpected run lasts hinges on their continued fitness.
Brian Brobbey’s introduction in Sunderland’s game with Arsenal had a major impact (George Wood/Getty Images)
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton lead the league in substitute goal contributions, with 13 from the bench. Among managers to oversee 50 Premier League games, Fabian Hurzeler is one of the most reliant on his backup options in the competition’s history.
Only former Sunderland manager Roy Keane used his substitutes more effectively, with almost a quarter of his team’s goals coming from the bench, a figure made even more notable given that it came in the three-sub era.
To riff on one of Keane’s catchphrases, Hurzeler’s subs ‘do their job‘. Nine players have contributed after coming on, with Danny Welbeck’s two-goal turn in the 3-1 away win at Chelsea the standout moment.
Liverpool
Given Liverpool’s current plight — their title defence is all but finished as they sit 11 points behind leaders Arsenal — those on the bench might feel they deserve more game time. Well, one in particular.
Federico Chiesa’s scuffed volley gave Liverpool the lead over Bournemouth on opening day and set the tone for a series of high-impact cameos.
Federico Chiesa has repeatedly made important interventions as a sub this season – does he deserve more game time? (George Wood/Getty Images)
Restricted to just 143 minutes, all as a substitute, the Italian has also scored against Crystal Palace and assisted Cody Gakpo’s goal against Manchester United. On Wednesday night, it was his defensive heroics that stood out, sprinting back in stoppage time to clear Wilson Isidor’s effort off the line and salvage a point for Liverpool in their 1-1 draw. In limited game time, Chiesa has built a strong case for a place in the next starting lineup.
Crystal Palace
No manager turns to their bench less than manager Oliver Glasner, with Palace substitutes playing less than five per cent of available Premier League minutes. This unwillingness to trust backup options comes into sharper focus after his recent complaints about the club’s lack of investment in the summer.
Examining the average matchday spend on Premier League benches supports his argument, with Palace’s £45million the second-cheapest in the division after Burnley. With European fixtures and Africa Cup of Nations absences stretching the squad, the board must now support their FA Cup-winning manager.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham’s bench under Thomas Frank offers a window into supporters’ frustration with the side’s flat attacking play. They have produced the fourth-lowest expected goals (xG) in the league, an illustration of how their slow and predictable build-up is struggling to break teams down.
Frank’s response has been to throw on attackers — most notably £51.8million summer signing Xavi Simons, who has played 183 minutes from the bench, more than any other player.
But Simons has not managed to ignite the attack when introduced, failing to register a goal contribution off the bench. It is a defensive midfielder, Pape Matar Sarr, who leads the way with a goal and an assist off the bench.
Brentford
Keith Andrews is the league’s least experienced manager, stepping into his first head coach role with Brentford this summer. His team mirrors that, and is the second-youngest behind Chelsea, with the starting lineup averaging 25.5 years.
It’s little surprise, then, that Andrews turns to his senior options from the bench: Brentford’s substitutes are the third-oldest in the division. He also waits longer than almost any manager to make his first change, typically around the 64th minute, trusting his older heads to see out games. Two of Brentford’s three goals from substitutes have come from Mathias Jensen, now in his seventh season at the club.
Newcastle United
Newcastle have three goals from substitutes this season, but still sit towards the bottom of the league for bench impact.
Part of that is by design. When Eddie Howe makes a change, he is often not chasing a goal. Newcastle have made six substitutions in stoppage time this season, joint-most with Leeds, as Howe looks to run down the clock or protect a lead with defensive reinforcements. They ranked second for this last season, making 14 late changes.
Tuesday night showed that this method of late-game management is far from watertight. Centre-back Fabian Schar was sent on for Lewis Miley in the dying moments against Tottenham with Newcastle 2-1 up, only for a Cristian Romero bicycle kick to snatch a point.
Bournemouth
Given that Bournemouth are renowned for their intense, hard-running style, it follows that head coach Andoni Iraola looks to freshen things up. They are making a league-high 4.9 substitutions per match, choosing to max out their bench options in nearly every game.
The main focus may be to give starters a breather, but when the subs deliver, they deliver big. Each of their four goals from the bench has been high-drama — all game-state-changing strikes scored after the 80th minute.
Eli Junior Kroupi scored his first for the club to rescue a 2-2 draw in stoppage time away at Leeds. Ryan Christie netted their third in the frenetic 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace. Justin Kluivert put them ahead in their 3-1 victory over Fulham, while Enes Unal rescued a late point at home to West Ham.
Fulham
No side in Premier League history scored more than the 18 goals served up by Fulham’s substitutes last season. That potency has dipped this year, but Silva’s bench still accounts for 23 per cent of their goal contributions.
And recent weeks have christened a new star from the sideline — Milan loanee Samuel Chukwueze. His two superb goals lit up Tuesday night’s clash with Manchester City, even if Fulham’s late surge fell short in a sensational 5-4 loss.
But in the home game before that, he did make a telling impact from the bench, with his whipped cross turned in late by Raul Jimenez for a 1-0 victory over Sunderland. If he can sustain these same levels over 90 minutes, he can become the attacking threat Craven Cottage has been crying out for.
Marco Silva: a bench specialist? (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Nottingham Forest
They have had three managers this season, but only their current one, Sean Dyche, has managed to coax real contributions from his bench.
Omari Hutchinson — whose lively cameos earned him a first league start against Wolves on Wednesday night — registered an assist in the 3-1 win over Leeds, while Ryan Yates supplied another in the 2-2 draw with Manchester United.
They remain without a goal from the bench, but it is not for want of trying. No team has handed fewer substitute minutes to defenders. Forest’s managers consistently lean on their attack-heavy squad when making in-game changes, and a goalscoring breakthrough should come sooner rather than later.
West Ham United
West Ham may be short on goals — just 15 so far, the joint third-fewest in the league — but at least their bench is bucking the trend. This is already their most fruitful season for substitute goals, with five. They last topped that in 2018-19, when they managed six.
And those goals have mattered. Four have come in West Ham’s three wins. Callum Wilson added the gloss to their surprise 3-0 away win at Forest, scoring the third. Tomas Soucek — used off the bench as an auxiliary centre-forward rather than in midfield — sealed their 3-1 victory at home to Newcastle, and got one in the 3-2 triumph over Burnley.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side slipped into the relegation zone this midweek, and their situation is perilous. Without their substitutes pitching in, it would be dire.
Leeds United
A surprising detail in Leeds’ substitute data is that Daniel James, their talisman from last season, ranks only third in minutes played. Injuries and recruits have sharply reduced the Welshman’s influence.
Farke’s changes have produced little overall, although Lukas Nmecha’s penalty did win their first game back in the Premier League, a 1-0 victory over Everton on the opening weekend. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has provided the only other bench goal, scoring in the 3-2 defeat to Manchester City last Saturday.
The two forwards — both summer signings who featured irregularly for their previous clubs last season — have swapped places seven times, Farke’s most frequent change as he tries to build their match fitness. The signs are encouraging: Calvert-Lewin looked sharp in the 3-1 win against Chelsea, poking home the third from close range via a rarely-spotted 0.99 xG shot.
Burnley
Before their 3-2 loss to West Ham, Scott Parker stressed the need to use his full squad during the hectic winter schedule: “You have a squad of 25 players and you’re going to need all of them.”
So far this season, however, his actions have not reflected that sentiment, either between or within games. Burnley have made just 1.1 lineup changes per match — the second-fewest in the Premier League — and their substitutes have played the fourth-lowest share of minutes.
But the bench players have made themselves count, with Lyle Foster’s 95th-minute strike securing a vital 3-2 win away to Wolves, and Loum Tchaouna’s long-range screamer powering them to a 2-0 victory over Leeds.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves have tried just about everything, and none of it has worked.
They make a league-high three changes to their lineup each game, yet no combination has sparked a win. The search for the elusive winning formula this season cost Vitor Pereira, and replacement Rob Edwards hasn’t fared any better.
Their bench has provided goal contributions in a single game, with Rodrigo Gomes scoring and David Moller Wolfe assisting in their 3-2 loss to Everton in August. Since then, it has been a pretty fallow field for sub and starter alike.
