Key performance variables between the top 10 and bottom 10 teams in the English Premier League 2012/13 season

Coaches, fans and the media identify successful football performance as finishing as high in the league as possible. Recently, research has indicated that possession, shots at goal, and goals scored are key performance indicators for successful football teams. There is however, a lack of understanding of other potential attacking and defensive performance variables that may contribute to successful performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the attacking and defensive performance indicators that may differentiate teams that finish in the top ten and the bottom ten in the English Premier League. In-game performance statistics from 380 games from the 2012/2013 English Premier League season were analysed for differences between the top and bottom ten teams. Successful teams (top ten) were found to have a significantly greater amount of possession of the ball (p < 0.01) along with significantly more short passes (<10metres) when in possession of the ball (p < 0.01) than less successful teams (bottom ten). With respect to shots at goal, top ten teams had significantly more shots at goal (p < 0.01) and scored more goals from inside the 18 yard box (p = 0.02) than bottom ten teams. Lastly, top ten teams were found to score significantly more goals from open-play (i.e., any time in game other than a re-start of play) than bottom ten teams (p < 0.01). Results indicate that for teams to be successful in the English Premier League, they should keep possession of the ball via short passes, with the attempt to penetrate the opposition defence to have a shot at goal from inside the 18-yard box.