Is Premier League possession football on way out?

The Premier League has long been associated with a more direct and counter-attacking style of play, but in recent years, there has been a noticeable shift towards possession-based football. Top clubs like Manchester City and Barcelona have enjoyed great success with this approach, dominating games and wearing down opponents with sustained periods of possession. However, this season's statistics suggest that this trend may be starting to buck.

The fact that only 36% of teams with more than 60% possession have won their games this season is a telling indicator that possession football is not as dominant as it once was. This could be due to a number of factors, including teams becoming more adept at defending against possession-based attacks, or simply that the Premier League's traditional counter-attacking style is still very much alive and well. Whatever the reason, it's clear that teams are no longer being rewarded for simply having the ball.

As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see if teams continue to adapt and find new ways to counter possession-based attacks. One thing to watch is whether top clubs like Manchester City and Liverpool, who have traditionally been associated with possession football, will adjust their approach in response to these trends. Will they look to incorporate more direct play into their game, or will they continue to stick with what has worked for them in the past? Either way, it's clear that the Premier League is evolving, and teams will need to be flexible and adaptable if they are to succeed.

Originally reported by bbc.co.uk. MyNews adds analysis for general news readers.