Ahead, Behind or Stuck in the Middle: Where Every Premier League Side Spends Its Minutes

Strip football back to its bones and one thing matters: time spent in front. The latest Opta Analyst game-state numbers, correct as of 12 November 2025, tell us exactly who’s bossing games, who’s living on a knife-edge, and who’s forever scrambling.

Time spent losing: Wolves adrift, Liverpool alarm bells

It’s grim reading at Molineux. Wolverhampton Wanderers have been behind a league-high 58% of their minutes. West Ham (47%) aren’t far behind and look every inch a side stuck in reverse.

Liverpool’s drop-off is the headline shock. The champions of 2024/25 have trailed for 36.9% of their game time — that’s 413 minutes and 4 seconds — and it shows. The Reds have been chasing far too often, their big summer spend yet to translate into control.

Burnley (36%) and Brighton (35%) complete the struggling pack, while Tottenham’s number raises an eyebrow: they’ve been behind for roughly 32.4% of their minutes, more than both Nottingham Forest and Leeds (each 32%) despite holding a healthier points tally.

At the sturdy end, Newcastle (18%) haven’t spent much time behind at all, even if the table position doesn’t flatter them. Arsenal (17%) and Manchester City (14%) are where you’d expect for title chasers. Chelsea have quietly kept things tight — only 13.1% of their minutes spent trailing (146:21), with a whopping 93 and a half of those coming in that 2-1 defeat to United. Crystal Palace under Oliver Glasner have been even stingier at 12.9% (143:13), a dramatic shift from last season’s 25.8%.

Time spent drawing: Black Cats and Toon keep it tight

Sunderland sit atop the stalemate standings, level for 59% of their minutes — that’s 657 minutes and 44 seconds of parity. Newcastle aren’t far off at 57%, and here’s a belter of a nugget: as of 12 November, the Magpies are the only side yet to be more than two goals ahead or behind in any league match. Palace (about 56.2%), Fulham (52.1%) and Forest (52%) also live long in the balance.

Chelsea hover just under half (49%), with Everton, Leeds and Burnley all on 48%. Liverpool, somehow, are yet to record a single draw this season despite being level 39% of the time. Wolves (30.5%) and City (30.3%) don’t hang around at 0-0, while United, curiously, are bottom of the drawing pile at 28.9%.

Time spent winning: City’s stranglehold, United and Arsenal close behind

This is the money column. Manchester City lead the way, ahead for 55.4% of their minutes — 610 minutes and 47 seconds with the foot on the throat. United are next at 44.7% (call it 45%; 496:05), marginally above Arsenal’s 44.3%.

Bournemouth (40%) and Chelsea (38%) deserve their plaudits for consistent control, and Brentford’s 37.9% is a superb return for a side many tipped for trouble. Spurs sit at 34%, Palace at 31%.

Everton’s new era has bite: 27.7% of minutes led (303:37), better than their neighbours. Liverpool are only at 24% and have needed late drama — think Rio Ngumoha’s 100th-minute winner against Newcastle — a touch too often. Down the bottom, Leeds and Sunderland (both 20%) have made a habit of tight margins, Fulham are at 18%, Burnley and Forest 16%, Wolves 12%, and West Ham a meagre 9.2%.

What it all means

Game-state is the heartbeat of a season. City look like City again — get in front, stay in front. United and Arsenal are spending plenty of time on the front foot, but the margins suggest there’s still rope for the chasers. Liverpool’s profile screams teething problems: too much time behind, not enough control, and zero draws to steady the ship. Chelsea’s numbers whisper resilience, while Palace’s transformation under Glasner is unmistakable.

As for Wolves and West Ham, the alarm bells are deafening. And up north, Sunderland and Newcastle are playing tightrope football — lots of balance, not much breathing space.

If you like to let the numbers nudge your weekend instincts, have a look at the best betting sites before the next round. Key markers: City ahead 55%, Wolves behind 58%, and Liverpool still the only side without a draw as of 12/11/2025. All figures via Opta Analyst.

Bottom line: control the game state, control your season.