Welcome to the newest version of The Alternative Premier League Table, the place every week, The Athletic analyses the complete division by way of a selected lens.
After taking a look at crosses in final week’s version, this week we’ll dive into late goals, with 85 minutes into video games our chosen threshold for a late strike all through this text.
Matchday 27 noticed six groups rating in or after the Eighty fifth minute, taking the Premier League season tally as much as 117. That already eclipses the totals from 2020-21 (112) and 2022-23 (114), is just one behind 2019-20, and on observe to get near 2024-25’s 156. The 195 late goals from 2023-24 may be exhausting to beat, although.
Key takeaways from this week’s desk embrace:
- Liverpool prepared the ground with 10 late goals this season, however Arne Slot’s facet have additionally conceded seven on the different finish.
- No workforce has let in additional late goals than Leeds United (12), whereas their three goals scored is joint second backside.
- Aston Villa are the one workforce but to concede a aim in or after the Eighty fifth minute this season.
- Wolves rank backside for goals scored late with simply two, however each have come in opposition to league leaders Arsenal.
As traditional, the article that follows is lengthy however detailed, so please cool down and revel in all of it — or use the index on the backside of the web page to leap to a selected membership.
Liverpool
Liverpool’s lead on this class this season is hardly shocking. Since the beginning of 2018-19, their 88 goals scored in or after the Eighty fifth minute is 20 greater than Manchester City in second. Mohamed Salah, who has three late goals in 2025-26, leads this class, too, with 11 (degree with Callum Wilson and Erling Haaland).
Five of their 10 goals, together with Alexis Mac Allister’s strike in opposition to Nottingham Forest (after having one disallowed for handball earlier), have include the sport degree. Three occurred of their first 4 video games, leading to wins over Bournemouth, Newcastle United and Burnley.
At the opposite finish, their seven conceded represents 1 / 4 of their complete since 2018-19 (28). Four of these goals have additionally include the sport degree, leading to losses to City, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Crystal Palace. Alisson has conceded practically two goals greater than anticipated (six from 4.3 anticipated goals heading in the right direction).
The different three have come after they had been forward, with Fulham and Leeds scoring deep into stoppage time to rescue attracts. The different aim — from Newcastle’s Will Osula within the 87th minute in August — was quickly outdated by Rio Ngumoha’s even later winner.
Rio Ngumoha celebrates his late winner at St James’ Park (George Wood/Getty Images)
Leeds United
Leeds have conceded 12 instances late in video games, with their 46 per cent duel success price on this interval the second worst within the league, solely forward of Bournemouth (44 per cent).
Dropping too deep, particular person errors, and a league-worst 4 penalty goals conceded have meant opponents have transformed 25 per cent of their pictures (additionally league-worst) in opposition to Leeds within the dying moments.
Six of their late goals conceded, together with Tammy Abraham’s strike on the weekend, have come after they have led. Aston Villa and Bournemouth got here from a aim behind to attract, whereas Newcastle equalised and scored one other to beat Leeds 4-3 a month in the past.
Lucas Perri and Karl Darlow have each struggled late on, permitting over three goals greater than anticipated (12 conceded from 15.3 xGOT).
Leeds’ solely late aim to interrupt a impasse got here in opposition to Fulham in January courtesy of Lukas Nmecha, a reversal on the 94th-minute Gabriel Gudmundsson personal aim that noticed Marco Silva’s facet win in September. Manchester City and Newcastle had been the opposite groups to attain late on to grab some extent away from Leeds.
Aston Villa
Villa have been one of many league’s greatest groups when defending late in video games and are but to concede in or after the Eighty fifth minute in 2025-26. In truth, since Unai Emery’s arrival on the dugout in November 2022, their 20 goals conceded late on ranks solely behind Arsenal and Liverpool among the many 17 groups to not be promoted or relegated.
Villa have managed video games late on higher than most. They have had a area tilt (share of complete touches within the attacking third) of 53 per cent whereas additionally managing a league-best 85 per cent passing accuracy within the last third.
At the opposite finish, Villa scored late from the chaos attributable to a nook to attract in opposition to Leeds and benefited from an identical scenario from open play earlier than Emiliano Buendia scored the winner in opposition to Arsenal in December. Their different late game-winner additionally got here from a nook, with Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jack Hinshelwood placing by way of his personal internet earlier this month.
Emi Buendia scored late on in Aston Villa’s win in opposition to Arsenal (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Wolves
Bottom-placed Wolves’ solely late goals this season have each come in opposition to leaders Arsenal. Tolu Arokodare scored a late equaliser within the first assembly on the Emirates, earlier than their second personal aim of the sport gave the league leaders a lucky win. Tom Edozie’s late aim final week rescued some extent, whereas additionally including to the drama on the high.
Wolves have twice conceded late equalisers to Brighton’s Jan-Paul van Hecke and Tottenham Hotspur’s Joao Palhinha, dropping 4 precious factors.
They have additionally conceded late winners on two events apart from Yerson Mosquera’s personal aim at Arsenal. Burnley punished Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s errant go in October, whereas Joao Gomes failed to trace Evann Guessand’s run within the weekend loss to Crystal Palace.
Manchester United
Manchester United have fewer anticipated goals on the finish of video games than every other facet — 3.6. Two of their 4 goals allowed — from Fulham’s Kevin and Brentford’s Mathias Jensen — had been from outdoors the field, whereas the opposite two (in opposition to Brighton and Spurs) got here from set items.
At the opposite finish, their three late match-winners ranks second behind Liverpool’s 5. Benjamin Sesko was the hero in opposition to Fulham, whereas Matheus Cunha helped inflict Arsenal’s solely residence defeat in 2025-26 final month. In August, Bruno Fernandes scored a 97th-minute penalty to seal a 3-2 win at Burnley.
Fernandes leads all gamers for possibilities created on the dying with 13, recording two assists. His 56 possibilities created within the last phases of matches since 2021-22 is 11 greater than James Ward-Prowse in second place.
Bryan Mbeumo, who has netted only one late aim this season, is just behind Erling Haaland (11) in late goals scored since 2021-22 with eight. He additionally has six assists, which solely trails Mohamed Salah (eight).
West Ham United
Since the beginning of 2018-19, no participant has scored extra late match-winners than Tomas Soucek’s 5. Two of these got here in opposition to Everton in January 2021 and March 2024.
Of West Ham’s six goals scored in or after the Eighty fifth minute in 2025-26, 4 have include them already forward, together with two within the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest. The different two got here inside every week of one another in victories over Newcastle (3-1) and Burnley (3-2).
West Ham’s solely late match-winner got here in opposition to Spurs final month from Callum Wilson, whose 11 late goals since 2018-19 is the joint-most with Haaland and Salah.
Defensively, Nuno Espirito Santo’s facet rank backside for pictures heading in the right direction conceded within the closing minutes, with 24, 9 of which have led to goals. They have made seven errors resulting in a shot, probably the most, with two resulting in a aim.
The first one in opposition to Burnley didn’t end in a loss, however Ollie Scarles’ missed clearance in opposition to Fulham in December led to Harry Wilson helping Raul Jimenez’s winner.
Manchester City
Manchester City have usually taken the sting out of video games late on with lengthy spells of passing, however their 56 per cent possession in or after the Eighty fifth minute in 2025-26 is their lowest within the final eight seasons, whereas their direct pace of 1.5 meters per second (a measure of how rapidly a workforce strikes the ball in the direction of the opposition goal-line) is at its highest.
City are the one workforce to not rating or concede when trailing in matches. They have netted 3 times when forward, all by way of Erling Haaland within the 3-0 win over Palace in December and twice within the 5-1 win over Burnley in September. Haaland’s 14 pictures on the finish of video games is the best within the league, with 71 per cent of them heading in the right direction.
City have additionally had two late game-winners which have saved them within the thick of the title race. Haaland’s late penalty in opposition to Liverpool this month adopted Phil Foden’s strike within the 3-2 win over Leeds in November.
At the opposite finish, City have twice conceded when forward, resulting in attracts in opposition to Chelsea and Arsenal. They averaged 42 per cent possession within the closing moments of each video games, retreating deeper and deeper and creating simply 4 mixed possibilities within the last half hours of each video games.
They have additionally conceded one late winner, in opposition to Brighton in August.
Erling Haaland’s first Premier League aim at Anfield got here late on (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton lead the division for goals from corners on the finish of video games with 4, even when their general set-piece document is center of the street (ninth in xG per 100 set items, with 4.5).
Three of these have gained them factors. Georginio Rutter equalised from a goalmouth scramble in opposition to West Ham, Jan-Paul van Hecke headed residence the leveller in opposition to Wolves, and Maxim De Cuyper did the identical for the winner in opposition to Chelsea, each goals coming from well-worked brief corners.
Brighton have additionally conceded late twice from set items. Jack Hinshelwood scored into his personal internet within the 1-0 loss to Villa in February, whereas Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz scored within the 97th minute on the opening day. Fulham inflicted additional ache in January, with Harry Wilson scoring a 92nd-minute free kick.
Fabian Hurzeler’s facet have scored 4 late goals whereas trailing, solely behind Burnley’s six. Apart from Rutter’s aim in opposition to West Ham and Van Hecke’s in opposition to Wolves, Charalampos Kostoulas scored one of many goals of the season with a bicycle kick in opposition to Bournemouth.
Newcastle United
Bruno Guimaraes’ 10 possibilities created in or after the Eighty fifth minute solely trails Bruno Fernandes’ 13, whereas he has added three late goals from simply seven pictures, too. Ahead of him, Harvey Barnes is second for pictures on the dying, with 11 (behind Haaland’s 14).
Newcastle have already eclipsed their late aim tally of 4 from 2024-25, with six. They have conceded extra, too (9 vs six final season), with much less management in midfield a key purpose.
They have twice conceded late when forward, with Cristian Romero’s late equaliser from a bicycle kick stealing two factors from them in December. They have additionally conceded three late winners, with defensive breakdowns resulting in goals scored by Dango Ouattara and Ngumoha. Gabriel’s winner for Arsenal in September got here from a nook.
Newcastle have scored two late game-winners: Barnes’ 102nd-minute strike to beat Leeds 4-3 and Guimaraes’ instinctive end to seal a 2-1 win over Fulham. Anthony Gordon’s 86th-minute penalty ought to have seen Newcastle beat Spurs, however Cristian Romero’s acrobatic effort cancelled it out.
Brentford
Brentford solely path Liverpool (10) for goals scored in or after the Eighty fifth minute with 9.
Six of these strikes have come at residence, the very best within the league, 4 of which capped off convincing wins over Manchester United, Newcastle, Burnley (all 3-1) and Bournemouth (4-1).
Brentford have been one of many league’s greatest groups in transition and that has significantly shone late in video games, with drained opponents leaving more room for them to take advantage of. Their three late goals from quick breaks leads the league, together with Sunderland.
At the opposite finish, Brentford have conceded late 3 times — all whereas main video games — and gained on all three events. Everton and Liverpool scored late when 4-1 and 3-1 down, whereas Zian Flemming’s Eighty fifth-minute equaliser was swiftly adopted by goals from Igor Thiago and Ouattara.
That is a continuation of 2024-25, when Brentford conceded late when forward on six events, profitable 5 instances. They are wonderful at constructing leads, but when these are threatened, they’re very good at punching again, too.
Arsenal
Five of Arsenal’s eight late goals in 2025-26 have include them main in video games, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring three (in opposition to Leeds in August and Sunderland and Spurs this month). They have scored a late equaliser simply as soon as — within the residence draw with Manchester City — and a late winner twice, by way of a Yerson Mosquera personal aim in opposition to Wolves and Gabriel’s header in opposition to Newcastle.
The extra regarding development for Arsenal is conceding late. Their six goals allowed in or after the Eighty fifth minute is greater than they allowed in any of the final six accomplished seasons, matching their season tally from 2018-19.
Four of these have include them main, the second-most, behind Leeds (six). Ollie Watkins’ strike for Aston Villa was a comfort with Arsenal 4-0 up, whereas Arokodare’s aim on the Emirates was cancelled out by Mosquera’s personal aim.
But 94th-minute goals from Wolves’ Edozie at Molineux and Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey on the Stadium of Light meant Arsenal dropped 4 factors.
Drops in focus have been an element, with Arsenal struggling to manage video games.
Their possession proportion drops from 58 within the first 84 minutes to 53 per cent within the closing moments. David Raya’s save price stands at 70 per cent within the first 84 minutes, however has dropped to 50 per cent within the closing moments, with the Arsenal goalkeeper conceding six late goals from 4.4 xGOT.
Viktor Gyokeres’ second aim in opposition to Spurs got here within the fourth minute of harm time (Glyn Kirk/AFP)
Burnley
Burnley have struggled late in video games, with solely West Ham (25) permitting extra pictures heading in the right direction within the dying moments than their 23. Their three errors resulting in goals — twice within the 5-1 loss to Manchester City in September and as soon as within the 3-1 defeat to Newcastle in December — is probably the most within the league.
Martin Dubravka is sixth general for goals prevented, at 2.7 (48 excluding personal goals from 50.7 xGOT), with a save price of 65 per cent. That quantity could be a lot better if not for his struggles late on, when he has conceded 10 goals from 8.6 xGOT, the fourth-worst mark, with a save price of 57 per cent.
Burnley have proven indicators of promise going ahead, with their eight goals rating joint third. Six of these have include the workforce trailing, with the final two — in opposition to Chelsea on the weekend and Bournemouth in December — serving to the workforce rescue some extent apiece. Lyle Foster scored a Ninety fifth-minute winner at Wolves in October, too.
But Burnley have been unable to maintain groups out as soon as their defence is damaged by way of, conceding six goals whereas trailing late — 4 whereas behind by one aim — eradicating their possibilities of making a comeback. They have scored simply as soon as whereas forward late: in opposition to Sunderland again in August to seal a uncommon 2-0 win.
Crystal Palace
No goalkeeper has prevented extra goals on the finish of video games than Dean Henderson, who has conceded simply 5 instances from an xGOT of seven.9. Multiple massive saves, together with the one under from Fulham’s Timothy Castagne, have secured essential factors for Palace late on in video games.
Of the 5 they’ve conceded, just one — from Everton’s Jack Grealish in October — was a game-winner. Bournemouth notably scored within the 89th minute to go 3-2 up 13 days after that Everton defeat, however Jean-Philippe Mateta equalised eight minutes later.
They have solely conceded as soon as whereas main, with Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa equalising within the 87th minute again in September. But Eddie Nketiah responded within the 97th minute to seal a 2-1 win.
Palace have scored six late goals, most just lately by way of Guessand within the Ninetieth minute in opposition to Wolves on the weekend. Marc Guehi scored a game-winner in opposition to Fulham in December, although that was adopted by a nine-match winless run that solely ended this month.
Chelsea
Chelsea have recorded the best xG within the closing moments of video games at 8.5, however their lack of composure in entrance of aim has been a difficulty. They have directed simply 29 per cent of their pictures heading in the right direction (second lowest), whereas lacking 11 of their 14 massive possibilities.
Cole Palmer’s late miss in opposition to Leeds is maybe probably the most memorable instance. But Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens missed two golden possibilities in the direction of the top of their 1-0 win over Spurs in November, whereas Enzo Fernandez headed a wonderful Estevao cross extensive in opposition to Liverpool in October.
Estevao went on to attain the winner deep into stoppage time, and Fernandez added their different game-winner in opposition to West Ham in late January. Their different late aim to interrupt a impasse was Moises Caicedo’s Eighty fifth-minute strike in opposition to Brentford in September, however Fabio Carvalho levelled late on.
Chelsea have additionally conceded 7.3 xG late in video games, the third most behind Leeds (8.1) and Burnley (7.8), with their organisation from lengthy throws and corners a trigger for concern.
Four of their six goals allowed, together with Carvalho’s strike and Zian Flemming’s header for Burnley on the weekend, have come from set items, the second most behind Liverpool (5). Brighton’s late winner at Stamford Bridge in September got here from a nook, too.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth led the league for late goals in 2024-25, with 16. Nine of these got here after they trailed in video games, the best by a workforce throughout a marketing campaign within the final eight seasons. That included 5 equalisers as nicely, two of which led to memorable late wins in opposition to Ipswich Town and Everton in August 2024.
But Eli Junior Kroupi has scored their solely late equaliser this time period, volleying residence within the 93rd minute in opposition to Leeds in September. Bournemouth have struck two late winners, too, with Amine Adli scoring from a throw-in in opposition to Liverpool and Antoine Semenyo putting from distance in opposition to Spurs in his last recreation, with each ending 3-2.
Defensively, Bournemouth have allowed 58 pictures late in video games, the third most behind Sunderland (70) and West Ham (63).
Four of their six late goals conceded have resulted in dropped factors. Crystal Palace, Burnley and Brighton all scored late equalisers, whereas Salah scored a late go-ahead aim on the opening evening of the season after Semenyo had clawed them degree from 2-0 down.
Sunderland
Sunderland are one in every of solely three groups, together with Aston Villa and Everton, to not concede late on when main or drawing in video games.
They are first for pictures allowed in these phases with 52, however 24 of these have been blocked, probably the most within the league, and 42 per cent of these pictures have come from outdoors the field (behind solely 44 per cent for Villa). Their 3.2 xG allowed is thirteenth.
The three goals Sunderland have conceded late have all come after they have been pressured to chase video games whereas trailing. Two of these have occurred this month, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring with Arsenal 2-0 up and Alex Iwobi wrapping up a 3-1 win for Fulham over the weekend.
At the opposite finish, Sunderland have tried a league-low 27 pictures within the last moments of video games however have directed 11 of these heading in the right direction (41 per cent accuracy, third greatest within the league).
Their solely late equaliser was Brobbey’s aim at residence in opposition to Arsenal. Regis Le Bris’ facet have scored two late winners by way of Wilson Isidor in opposition to Brentford in August and Chemsdine Talbi in opposition to Chelsea in October.
Six of their 9 wins have been by one aim, they usually have constructed on their late leads simply twice. Isidor capped off their 3-0 opening-day win over West Ham with a 92nd-minute strike, whereas Ladislav Krejci scored a late personal aim to seal a 2-0 win over Wolves in October.
Brian Brobbey’s late aim in opposition to Arsenal is one in every of Sunderland’s most-celebrated of the season to this point (George Wood/Getty Images)
Everton
Everton have delivered some memorable late moments for his or her followers in recent times. James Tarkowski’s equaliser within the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, Abdoulaye Doucoure’s 94th-minute winner at Nottingham Forest in 2024, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header in opposition to Crystal Palace to safe their top-flight standing in May 2022 all stand out.
Simultaneously, they’ve additionally suffered heartbreaks, conceding six or extra late goals in three of the final 4 accomplished seasons. In 2024-25, Bournemouth scored 3 times after the 86th minute in August, and Adam Armstrong scored late to offer Southampton one in every of simply two wins all season.
Everton have defended a lot better late in video games in 2025-26, conceding simply twice. Both cases — within the 4-2 defeat to Brentford and 3-0 loss to Tottenham — got here with them chasing video games.
Of their three goals scored, two have been memorable. Jack Grealish and Beto each turned residence rebounds in stoppage time in opposition to Crystal Palace (2-1 win) and Brighton (1-1) respectively.
Fulham
Since returning to the Premier League in 2022, Fulham have been concerned within the video games with the second-highest variety of late goals (68), behind Brentford and Brighton (69). They are the one workforce with an ideal stability on this stretch, with 34 scored and 34 conceded.
Five of Rodrigo Muniz’s 18 Premier League goals have come late on, together with a memorable winner at Chelsea final season. He additionally scored the primary of their eight late goals in 2025-26, knocking the ball residence to rescue some extent in opposition to Brighton within the first week.
Six of their different seven have come whereas they had been trailing in or drawing video games. Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson scored match-winners in opposition to West Ham in December and Brighton in January respectively, whereas Gabriel Gudmundsson’s personal aim proved pivotal in opposition to Leeds in September. Harrison Reed bought a memorable long-distance equaliser in opposition to Liverpool.
Jimenez and Kevin each scored late on to attract Fulham degree at Old Trafford just lately, however Benjamin Sesko gained it for the house facet.
In truth, Fulham’s 5 go-ahead goals conceded within the last moments is probably the most within the league. Reed’s aim secured some extent in opposition to Liverpool after Cody Gakpo put them forward within the 94th minute. But Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Leeds (within the reverse fixture) and Manchester United all scored to steal late wins.
Nottingham Forest
Forest scored seven late goals in 2024-25, however 4 of these got here with them already main by two or extra goals. Nuno Espirito Santo’s facet thrived at taking early leads and defending resolutely, needing to stage only one late comeback, scoring within the 87th and 93rd minutes to beat Villa 2-1 in December 2024.
They have scored simply three late goals in 2025-26. Two had been penalties, with Elliot Anderson including the gloss to a 3-1 win over Leeds in November and Morgan Gibbs-White securing a 2-1 win in opposition to West Ham in January. Their different late aim, scored by Lorenzo Lucca, got here within the 3-1 defeat to Leeds this month.
Lucca’s aim notably got here from an open-play cross, Forest’s most popular weapon late in video games. They have recorded 77 such makes an attempt this season — solely behind Wolves (79) — however these have typically been hopeful somewhat than correct. They have created simply two possibilities with these crosses.
Crosses have been a theme on the different finish, too. Forest’s opponents have accomplished 32 per cent of their open-play cross makes an attempt late on in video games, the best mark within the division. One of these led to Alexis Mac Allister’s 97th-minute winner on the weekend, whereas Callum Wilson scored from one for Nuno’s present facet, West Ham, in August to seal a 3-0 win.
Of their different two late goals conceded, one got here from a Murillo error in opposition to Brighton in a recreation they had been trailing 1-0, whereas the opposite was a penalty by Lucas Paqueta minutes earlier than Wilson’s header.
Morgan Gibbs-White’s late winner at West Ham might but show pivotal within the Premier League relegation battle (Ben Stansall/AFP by way of Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs had been an thrilling watch late on in video games throughout Ange Postecoglou’s first season, scoring 12 instances and conceding 10 extra. A drop off adopted in 2024-25 and has continued this season, with a middling output of 5 scored and 5 conceded in or after the Eighty fifth minute.
Tottenham haven’t gained a recreation after conceding late. They drew 2-2 with Manchester United and Newcastle, having scored late in each video games by way of Richarlison (earlier than Matthijs de Ligt’s equalizer) and Cristian Romero (after Anthony Gordon’s penalty).
Two of the three remaining goals conceded had been winners from Bournemouth and West Ham, whereas Viktor Gyokeres capped their humiliation over the weekend with Arsenal’s fourth.
At the opposite finish, solely Sunderland (2.95), Leeds (3.4) and Wolves (3.95) have much less xG than Spurs’ 4.1 late on in video games.
Only one in every of their 5 late goals has introduced them a win — in opposition to Everton in October after they had been already 2-0 up. Joao Palhinha rescued a late level in opposition to Wolves in September, whereas Romero added to his aim at Newcastle with a Ninetieth-minute strike to safe a 2-2 draw with Burnley final month.
The Arsenal defeat highlighted two of their main issues: the dearth of bravery and conviction in midfield and obtrusive errors in defence. Spurs have accomplished simply 66 per cent of their passes into the ultimate third late in video games, whereas giving possession away in their very own third on 149 events (solely behind Palace’s 158).
