On Tuesday, Bayern Munich had 69% possession, and failed to score against Real Madrid.

On Sunday, Liverpool had 73% possession, and failed to score against Chelsea.

So is possession overrated? We’ve been through this season’s Premier League stats to find out.

Of the nine teams to have an average Premier League possession of over 50%, only one was outside the top half of the table - Swansea.

Only Stoke and Newcastle had a possession rate of over 50% and were in the top half of the league.

Only teams with an average possession of over 50% had a goals per game ratio of over 1.5. No team with 55% or more possessions averaged under 1.42 goals per game.

Liverpool turned the most possession into goals, scoring a goal per 20.63% possession, and got a point for every 24.75% possession.

Man City scored a goal for every 21.45% possession, and a point per 25.91% possession.

Everton score a goal for every 34.7% possession, and a point for every 28.7%

Newcastle have managed a goal for every 45.23% possession (the 4th worst in the league), and a point for every 38.35% possession.

 

Team % Pos Games Goals Points Points per game Goals per game Pos % per goal Pos % per point
Southampton 59 36 52 52 1.44 1.44 40.85 40.85
Swansea 58 36 51 39 1.08 1.42 40.94 53.54
Arsenal 57 36 65 73 2.03 1.81 31.57 28.11
Man City 57 35 93 77 2.20 2.66 21.45 25.91
Chelsea 55 36 69 78 2.17 1.92 28.70 25.38
Everton 55 36 57 69 1.92 1.58 34.74 28.70
Liverpool 55 36 96 80 2.22 2.67 20.63 24.75
Man United 55 35 60 60 1.71 1.71 32.08 32.08
Tottenham 55 36 52 66 1.83 1.44 38.08 30.00
Newcastle 49 36 39 46 1.28 1.08 45.23 38.35
Stoke 47 36 39 44 1.22 1.08 43.38 38.45
Norwich 46 36 28 32 0.89 0.78 59.14 51.75
Sunderland 46 35 37 32 0.91 1.06 43.51 50.31
WBA 46 35 42 36 1.03 1.20 38.33 44.72
Cardiff 45 36 31 30 0.83 0.86 52.26 54.00
Hull 45 35 36 37 1.06 1.03 43.75 42.57
Aston Villa 44 35 36 35 1.00 1.03 42.78 44.00
Fulham 43 36 37 31 0.86 1.03 41.84 49.94
West Ham 43 36 38 37 1.03 1.06 40.74 41.84
Crystal Palace 37 36 28 43 1.19 0.78 47.57 30.98