In the fast-paced world of Premier League football, substitutions have become increasingly crucial as managers navigate packed schedules and seek game-changing moments. Since the pandemic, Premier League managers have been permitted to make up to five substitutions across three occasions during matches, providing tactical flexibility to handle injuries, manage player workload, and influence outcomes.
Brighton's Fabian Hurzeler stands out as the manager who utilizes his bench most frequently, making an impressive 130 substitutions out of a possible 135, averaging 4.8 per game. This approach mirrors his predecessor Roberto de Zerbi, who averaged 4.6 substitutions per match. With significant investment last summer making Brighton Europe's second-biggest spenders, Hurzeler has a wealth of attacking options at his disposal and doesn't hesitate to use them, making all five permitted changes in 80% of their games.
Interestingly, two clubs battling relegation—Southampton and Ipswich Town—rank among the top five for substitution frequency. Their changes typically come early, either at halftime or shortly after, as both teams regularly find themselves trailing and seeking quick solutions to turn matches around.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Manchester City's Pep Guardiola continues his conservative approach to substitutions, averaging just 3.3 per match this season—only slightly up from last season's three per game when City claimed the title. Despite facing more challenges this season, Guardiola has maintained his reluctance to significantly alter his lineup during matches.
Chelsea's Enzo Maresca appears to be following in his former boss Guardiola's footsteps, ranking in the bottom six for substitutions made. Despite having a large squad at his disposal, Maresca has remained committed to his tactical approach and preferred personnel, even as Chelsea have won just three of their last twelve fixtures.
Everton, meanwhile, have made the fewest substitutions in the league, likely due to limited bench options and former manager Sean Dyche's pragmatic approach. With more draws than any other team in the league, their changes have typically aimed to secure a point rather than pursue victories.
When examining the impact of substitutions, Brighton, Fulham, and Bournemouth—all among the most active in making changes—feature in the top four for goal involvements by replacements. Bournemouth leads the way, with four different players (Justin Kluivert, Dango Ouattara, Enes Unal, and David Brooks) each contributing two goals from the bench. Manager Andoni Iraola effectively uses substitutes to maintain the Cherries' high-intensity pressing style with fresh legs.
Fulham's Marco Silva has reaped significant rewards from his bench, with substitutes scoring 11 goals this season. Rodrigo Muniz and Harry Wilson have been particularly effective, combining for eight goals as replacements.
Arsenal ranks in the top four for substitute goal involvements, though notably none of their nine has come from a center-forward—perhaps highlighting a gap in their squad. In contrast, title rivals Liverpool have benefited from five goals from "super-sub" strikers Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez.
Former Leicester City manager Steve Cooper achieved the best substitution-to-goal ratio, with his 46 changes across 12 games yielding four goals—representing 16% of Leicester's total goals during his tenure.
Manchester United has struggled to get production from their bench since Ruben Amorim's arrival, with Christian Eriksen's assist against Southampton in January standing as their only substitute goal involvement. Southampton, despite their frequent changes, have managed just one goal from the bench under Ivan Juric, matching the output of Gary O'Neil at Wolves and Sean Dyche at Everton before their respective departures.
Newcastle United and Crystal Palace have each produced only two goals through substitutes, suggesting limited squad depth and overreliance on their starting elevens. Nevertheless, Newcastle has gained more points from losing positions than any other Premier League team, indicating that Eddie Howe's changes may be more focused on solidifying the midfield rather than adding attacking firepower.
The data reveals a correlation between proactive substitution strategies and late-game impact. As traditional powerhouses face challenges and other clubs grow in confidence, the effective use of substitutions has become a defining factor in the increasingly competitive Premier League landscape.
