As fixture congestion continues to challenge Premier League managers, the strategic use of substitutions has become an increasingly vital tool in managing player workload, preventing injuries, and altering the course of matches.
With clubs now allowed up to five substitutions spread over three stoppages, the way managers utilize their bench speaks volumes about their tactical approach and squad depth.
Brighton’s Aggressive Use of Substitutions
One club that has embraced this shift is Brighton & Hove Albion, where manager Fabian Hürzeler has maintained an aggressive substitution strategy. Hürzeler, who replaced Roberto De Zerbi, has made 130 out of a possible 135 substitutions this season, averaging 4.8 changes per game.
This continues De Zerbi’s trend of making frequent changes, reflecting Brighton’s proactive style of play.
A significant portion of Brighton’s substitutions occur in the latter stages of matches, with Hürzeler opting to rotate attacking wingers to exploit tired defenders.
Given Brighton’s heavy investment in wingers over the summer, this strategy allows them to maintain attacking intensity while minimizing fatigue.
Substitutions and Survival: Southampton & Ipswich’s Approach
Interestingly, two relegation-threatened sides, Southampton and Ipswich Town, rank among the top five teams for most substitutions made. Unlike Brighton, however, their changes primarily occur at halftime or shortly after the break, often in reaction to conceding early goals.
Their high volume of substitutions reflects a desperate need to alter the course of games quickly as they struggle to find consistency in their starting lineups.
Guardiola and Maresca: Sticking to Their Plans
On the other end of the spectrum, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola has once again opted to limit his use of substitutes.
Despite facing more tactical challenges this season compared to their title-winning campaign last year, City have averaged just 3.3 substitutions per game.
Last season, Guardiola’s reluctance to make changes was justified by a dominant squad that needed little intervention, but this year, his persistence in maintaining stability raises questions amid their struggles.
Similarly, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been conservative with his bench despite having a deep squad at his disposal. With only three wins in the last 12 matches, Maresca’s reluctance to adjust his lineup frequently could indicate an effort to build consistency, yet it may also contribute to Chelsea’s difficulties in turning games around.
Everton’s Lack of Options Restricting Changes
Everton, meanwhile, have made the fewest substitutions in the league, a statistic attributed to both manager Sean Dyche’s pragmatic approach and the club’s limited squad depth.
Everton’s emphasis has been on maintaining defensive solidity rather than chasing wins, leading to a high number of draws this season. With fewer quality options available on the bench, Dyche has often opted to stick with his starting XI rather than introduce fresh attacking threats.
Super-Subs Making an Impact
Among the clubs that frequently turn to their bench, Bournemouth, Fulham, and Arsenal have seen their substitutes contribute significantly in attack.
Bournemouth leads the league with the highest number of goals scored by substitutes, including key contributions from Justin Kluivert, Dango Ouattara, Enes Unal, and David Brooks, all of whom have scored twice off the bench.
Fulham manager Marco Silva has also found success with his substitutions, with Rodrigo Muniz and Harry Wilson scoring a combined eight goals after coming on as substitutes.
Arsenal, despite ranking in the top four for goals from substitutes, have yet to see a single goal from a center-forward off the bench, highlighting a potential gap in their attacking depth.
Manchester United and Newcastle Struggling for Impact
Conversely, Manchester United’s substitutes have had little impact since Ruben Amorim’s arrival, with only one goal involvement from the bench—Christian Eriksen’s assist against Southampton.
This lack of attacking threat from substitutes suggests United’s squad lacks depth in game-changing players.
Similarly, Newcastle and Crystal Palace have struggled to get goals from substitutes, managing only slightly better than relegation-threatened teams like Ipswich.
Newcastle, however, have gained the most points from losing positions, suggesting that Eddie Howe’s substitutions are more focused on reinforcing midfield rather than injecting attacking firepower.
The Substitution Dilemma
As the Premier League becomes increasingly competitive, teams that proactively use substitutions have found greater success in altering games.
Brighton, Bournemouth, and Fulham have demonstrated the value of squad depth and tactical flexibility, while teams like Manchester City, Chelsea, and Everton have stuck to a more rigid approach, sometimes to their detriment.
With the season progressing and the title race, European qualification, and relegation battle intensifying, managers will need to carefully consider how best to utilize their bench.
Will Guardiola and Maresca continue to rely on consistency, or will they adapt to a more dynamic approach? And can struggling teams like Southampton and Ipswich turn their frequent changes into positive results?
The answers may well define the fate of clubs across the league as they head into the crucial final stretch of the season.
