Chelsea have been named and shamed as this season’s biggest waste of time, after a new study ranked Enzo Maresca’s side on top for timewasting tactics.
This unwanted title will be even tougher to shake after the Blues’ disappointing midweek draw against Qarabag in the Champions League, where the ball was kept out of play for 46 minutes and 11 seconds across the 98 minutes on the clock. This is equivalent to 47% of matchplay.
The full research carried out by 247Bet compared all 20 Premier League clubs competing in 2025/26 against the same five time-draining factors, which together gave each club a score out of 100. These factors included the average number of passes back to the goalkeeper per game, the percentage of non-progressive passes, the percentage of match-time spent with the ball out of play, the average number of defensive third touches per game, and the average number of added minutes in Premier League matches this season.
Key findings:
- Chelseaare the Premier League’s biggest timewasters this season, with a total time-draining score of 88.9 out of 100.
- Chelsea’s timewasting methods in 2025/26 have included 33.9 passes back to the goalkeeper per game, 87.6% of all passes being non-attacking, and keeping the ball out of play for 47.4% of matchplay.
- Liverpoolranked second for time-wasting this season, with a score of 79.2, as the Reds have added more minutes to the clock per match than any other club in the Premier League this season.
- Arsenal ranked eighth overall, being found to waste less time this season than the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villaand more.
- Evertonhave wasted the least time in the Premier League this season, while West Hamare the best timekeepers out of London’s EPL sides.
London-based Premier League club sets timewasting trend... but it’s not Arsenal
- Chelsea have been crowned this season’s biggest timewasters, with a total score of 88.9 out of 100. Enzo Maresca’s side has mastered the dark art of draining the clock by completing 33.9 passes back to the goalkeeper, 87.6% of all passes being non-attacking, and keeping the ball out of play for 47.4% of game time.
- Their London rivals, Arsenalmay have developed a reputation for timewasting under Mikel Arteta, but the current league leaders are only the eighth-most culpable timewasters in 2025/26, with a score of 61.7. Arsenal’s 197.4 touches in their own defensive third and keeping the ball out of play for 44% of game time are surprisingly some of the lowest figures in the league for these factors.
- In fact, Liverpoolranked second in the league for timewasting in 2025/26, with a score of 79.2. The Reds have added more minutes to the clock than any other club in the Premier League this season, with a staggering average of 8.4 minutes of added time per game. Meanwhile, a shocking 87.3% of Liverpool’s passes this season have been non-attacking.
- Brightonhave made timewasting a big part of their tactics this season, as the Seagulls ranked third with a score of 74.3. While Aston Villa have also adopted some timewasting methods in 2025/26, as the Villains ranked fourth with a score of 65.5.
- Newcastlecompleted the top five for timewasting, with a score of 63.8. Eddie Howe’s side have kept the ball out of play for 47.7% of game time so far this season, which is more than any other Premier League side.
- Both Manchester United andManchester Citywere found to have a similar reputation for timewasting, ranking in sixth and seventh place respectively.
- At the opposite end of the table, Evertonare the least likely to waste time this season, with a low score of 46.1 out of 100. The Toffees have the highest percentage of attacking passes in the Premier League so far at 19.9% and have the kept the ball in play for 56.4% of game time.
- West Ham have wasted the least time out of London’s seven Premier League clubs and received a score of 47.3. The Hammers have hardly touched the ball in their own defensive third, just 198.1 times per game.
- Meanwhile Nottingham Forest and Wolves are also amongst the least likely teams to waste time in 2025/26. Forest had the fewest passes back to the goalkeeper per game at 19.9
- Elsewhere in London, Fulham, Crystal Palace, and Tottenhamall featured in the middle of the time-wasting table, while Brentfordranked in 16th. The Bees’ 193.7 defensive third touches per game is the lowest in the league this season.
|
Rank
|
Team
|
TOTAL TIMEWASTING SCORE /100
|
% of mins ball out of play in 2025/26
|
% of non-attacking passes in 2025/26
|
Avg. passes back to the GK in 2025/26 games
|
Avg. defensive third touches in 2025/26 games
|
Avg. no. of added minutes in 2025/26
|
|
1
|
Chelsea
|
88.9
|
47.4
|
87.6
|
33.9
|
237.7
|
7.9
|
|
2
|
Liverpool
|
79.2
|
46.2
|
87.3
|
38.4
|
237.5
|
8.4
|
|
3
|
Brighton
|
74.3
|
46.9
|
84.9
|
34.5
|
223.7
|
8
|
|
4
|
Aston Villa
|
65.5
|
46.6
|
85.9
|
31.4
|
186.4
|
7
|
|
5
|
Newcastle
|
63.8
|
47.7
|
80.4
|
20
|
206.9
|
7.6
|
|
6
|
Manchester United
|
63.7
|
47.3
|
83.8
|
23.7
|
203.8
|
7.4
|
|
7
|
Manchester City
|
63.2
|
43.5
|
89
|
26.5
|
237
|
6.4
|
|
8
|
Arsenal
|
61.7
|
44
|
85.9
|
31.6
|
197.4
|
7.9
|
|
9
|
Fulham
|
61
|
46
|
84
|
31.9
|
251.4
|
7.1
|
|
10
|
Crystal Palace
|
58.4
|
44.9
|
83.5
|
25
|
231.7
|
8
|
|
11
|
Tottenham
|
57.3
|
46.4
|
84.1
|
36
|
235.1
|
6
|
|
12
|
Bournemouth
|
52.2
|
46.6
|
83.1
|
21
|
217.7
|
6.9
|
|
13
|
Leeds
|
52.2
|
42.5
|
85.8
|
31.7
|
214.6
|
6.7
|
|
14
|
Burnley
|
51.4
|
44.7
|
83.1
|
20.9
|
209.1
|
7.9
|
|
15
|
Sunderland
|
50.9
|
43.8
|
83.6
|
29.3
|
212.3
|
7.3
|
|
16
|
Brentford
|
50.8
|
46.7
|
81.7
|
27
|
193.7
|
6.6
|
|
17
|
Wolves
|
48.8
|
44.3
|
82.9
|
29.4
|
231.6
|
6.7
|
|
18
|
Nottingham Forest
|
47.9
|
42.9
|
85.8
|
19.9
|
230.7
|
6.3
|
|
19
|
West Ham
|
47.3
|
44.1
|
83.8
|
29.1
|
198.1
|
6.7
|
|
20
|
Everton
|
46.1
|
43.6
|
81.1
|
31.3
|
208.3
|
7
|
