Premier League tactics: four key insights from the weekend
From midfield overloads to flank attacks and new pressing schemes, the second weekend of the Premier League season offered notable tactical lessons.
The second round of Premier League fixtures revealed fresh tactical innovations and ingenious player roles.
Chelsea demolished West Ham, Arsenal outclassed Leeds, Tottenham stunned Manchester City, and Manchester United drew with Fulham.
Here are four tactical takeaways from the weekend.
Silva's Plan Overwhelms United
After a spirited match against Arsenal, Manchester United struggled at Fulham, repeating issues from last season.
Fulham manager Marco Silva explained his simple yet effective approach: pressing United’s back five by instructing his attackers to drop off and overload the midfield around United’s two central players, creating numerical superiority and inviting passes into vacated space.
This tactic forced United’s center-backs to hesitate before stepping out, opening passing lanes to Fulham’s midfielders and exposing gaps in the 3-4-3 formation. Silva’s strategy underscored vulnerabilities in United’s setup and could be emulated by other teams.
Spurs Exploit City’s High Press
Pep Guardiola’s side began implementing a sharper high press this season, aiming to force opponents into errors.
Thomas Frank countered this by attacking down the flanks, especially exploiting City’s left side. Key movements between Pedro Porro and Mohammed Kudus stretched City’s defense, with Pape Matar Sarr’s late runs creating overloads and disorganizing the back line, leading to Spurs’ breakthrough.
Grealish Thrives in City Role at Everton
Jack Grealish excelled for Everton against Brighton, matching his highest assist tally by operating like he did under Guardiola at Manchester City rather than reverting to his Aston Villa style.
Deployed wide and high, Grealish drew multiple defenders before laying off decisive passes, freeing teammates in created spaces. His performance highlighted David Moyes’s effective adaptation of Grealish’s strengths.
Wider Trends in High Pressing
Across the weekend, teams increasingly used wingers to press center-backs, opening space on the flanks.
In City vs Spurs, Brennan Johnson pressed Ruben Dias while their right-back covered distance, creating wider channels for City’s counter-press. This trend suggests a shift in pressing schemes and raises questions about how defenses will adapt to protect wide areas.
These matches demonstrated how targeted tactical adjustments—midfield overloads, flank attacks, and revamped pressing—can redefine the balance of power in the Premier League.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
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