This season, the average number of high steals per game in the Premier League is only 11.5, setting a record low in the past decade

Hupu reported a high steal on September 25, that is, winning the ball in an area within 40 meters from the opponent's goal, which was once an important feature of modern football. However, according to Opta data statistics, the first five rounds of the 2025-26 season show that the power of this "weapon" is weakening.

The average number of high steals per game in the Premier League last season was 14.6, while the 2023-24 season reached 16.7, a record high in the past decade. This season, that number has dropped to 11.5 times per game, the lowest in the past decade. At the same time, the proportion of shots caused by high steals also declined, from 17% in the 2023-24 season to 14.9% this season, indicating that the threat of its conversion to goals was also significantly weakened.

In terms of specific team performance, Manchester City averaged 9.4 steals per game last season, ranking first in the league, and dropped to 6.4 times this season, ranking only seventh; Liverpool dropped from 8.1 times per game (seventh place) last season to 4.4 times, and only two teams in the Premier League were lower than them. This change may be more due to the opponent's choice of long passes in the backcourt, reducing the space for high-level steals to create opportunities, rather than the team's poor pressing.