The Premier League’s big clubs have bulked up. Driven in this direction by five substitutions, the expansion of European competition, the increasing intensity of modern football and the strain on individual players.
They have arrived at the conclusion, it would appear, that the schedule is not about to relent. Let’s face it, the owners don’t want it to relent. More games brings more exposure brings more money.
So, if they’re going to be playing football around the year at full throttle, with matches stretched beyond 100 minutes on a regular basis, the physical strain leading to injured and exhausted players is inevitable.
The rise of ambitious and upwardly mobile middle-rankers might have added impetus, too, all giving rise to the defining element of this summer’s £3billion recruitment spree, which is the Premier League’s elite strengthening squads and recalibrating firepower.
When at Tottenham, Antonio Conte was forever wrangling for more depth and coveting the substitutes at the disposal of his nearest rivals, their range of options and alternatives in forward areas.
His comments were usually framed to support his argument for new signings. He always wanted more. Maybe he knew the direction of travel because the six English clubs bound for the Champions League are stacked with fresh talent and especially in the attacking areas.
Liverpool sought to find quality in attack to supplement golden boot winner Mohamed Salah
Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz boost their attacking options but chemistry may be at risk
Arsenal had seven forwards hit double figures last season and have added Viktor Gyokeres
Liverpool in contrast to others have sought to find quality at the expense of quantity, with just five recognised strikers plus Florian Wirtz who scored between them 119 goals in 250 games last season at a rate of 0.476 per game, better than any of their rivals.
One of those is Federico Chiesa who scored just twice. Another is Mohamed Salah who scored 29 in the Premier League alone, six clear in the Golden Boot race ahead of Alexander Isak, now an Anfield teammate.
It is a fearsome force even if there are unknown elements, because the overall chemistry is at risk for the champions, with three new, very expensive signings, who will all expect to play regularly although none can eclipse Salah.
And how do they cope if they lose one or two to injuries? Arne Slot’s back up is 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha.
At Arsenal, they have seven forward players who hit double figures last season, plus Gabriel Jesus who scored seven in 27 appearances before sidelined with a serious knee injury.
Viktor Gyokeres is stepping up in class after scoring 54 for Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, however, and Mikel Arteta is beset by injury problems already with Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz out and Jesus still not back.
Take Arteta’s top six forward players based on last season’s returns, therefore excluding Jesus and Leandro Trossard’s 10 in 56 appearances, and Arsenal are not far behind Liverpool with 116 goals in 260 appearances, as a rate of 0.446 per game.
Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke have all been signed in response to the question: Where are the goals coming from when not from set plays? If they still have Trossard when all the world’s transfer deadlines have passed, and when Havertz, Saka and Jesus are back, they will have a squadron of eight top-class attacking players.
Erling Haaland still dominates for Man City but their need to find other reliable contributors
Chelsea have become stacked with attacking talents, with the likes of Joao Pedro joining
Newcastle and Tottenham worked up until the deadline to boost their forward options with Yoane Wissa and Xavi Simons among those to move in the final days of the window
Arsenal’s new squad looks powerful. There is real depth and experience. There is goal craft to go with the mean defence and set piece threat although it leaves Arteta to find new rhythms. Early displays, albeit in tough away fixtures, have been short of fluency.
Erling Haaland still dominates Manchester City’s forward unit although Omar Marmoush came within three of his 31 goals in all competitions last season. Beyond those two, however, City need to find reliable contributors.
Rayan Cherki, ruled out injured for two months, scored 12 for Lyon and Phil Foden 10 in what was a poor season by City standards. Add Jeremy Doku and Savinho and the goal power is 0.337 per game. Short of Liverpool and Arsenal.
This season, Oscar Bobb is back from long-term injury although Pep Guardiola will see the return of Rodri as the most positive difference, restoring balance to give his forwards more freedom.
GOAL POWER (six top-ranking forwards with goals scored and games in 24/25)
Liverpool 119 goals in 250 games – 0.476
Salah 34 in 52, Isak 27 in 42, Ekitike 22 in 48, Gakpo 18 in 49, Wirtz 16 in 45, Chiesa 2 in 14.
Arsenal 116 goals in 260 games – 0.446
Gyokeres 54 in 52, Havertz 15 in 36, Eze 14 in 43, Saka 12 in 37, Madueke 11 in 41, Martinelli 10 in 51
Man City 89 goals in 264 games – 0.337
Haaland 31 in 44, Marmoush 28 in 48, Cherki 12 in 44, Foden 10 in 45, Doku 6 in 38, Savinho 2 in 45
Spurs 70 goals in 236 games – 0.297
Johnson 18 in 51, Solanke 16 in 45, Simons 11 in 33, Kolo Muani 10 in 33, Kulusevski 10 in 50, Richarlison 5 in 24
Newcastle 70 goals in 239 games – 0.293
Wissa 20 in 39, Woltemade 17 in 33, Barnes 9 in 40, Murphy 9 in 41, Gordon 9 in 42, Elanga 6 in 43
Chelsea 66 goals in 267 games (excluding CWC) – 0.247
Palmer 15 in 46, Delap 12 in 40, Garnacho 11 in 58, Joao Pedro 10 in 30, Gittens 12 in 48, Neto 6 in 45
There’s more to scoring goals than goal scorers of course but they do help.
Chelsea’s appetite to trade has prompted another summer of upheaval with Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho in to replace Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Jadon Sancho and Madueke in attacking areas.
Teenage Brazilian Estevao is a new addition, while Tyrique George’s collapsed move to Fulham and the deadline-day loan signing of Facundo Buonanotte leaves them stacked with nine forwards, without getting into the realm of attacking midfielders such as Enzo Fernandez.
For all the valid criticism of the buy-to-sell recruitment model, the bomb squad and expensive cast-offs at Chelsea, the sheer size of the squad helped Enzo Maresco manage an arduous campaign last season.
In 64 games, culminating in the Club World Cup final in mid-July, no forward players made more appearances than Cole Palmer’s 55. Garnacho made more for Manchester United.
Tottenham and Newcastle were busy up to the deadline, trying to restore their goal power ahead of a return to Champions League football.
Newcastle added Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade, who scored 37 between them last season, to replace Isak and Callum Wilson, who scored 28.
Spurs, having lost the goals of Heung-min Son, sold to LAFC, James Maddison, out injured for most of the season, and Dejan Kulusevski, not expected back before December, invested in Randal Kolo Muani, Xavi Simons and Mohamed Kudus.
Thomas Frank has eight forward players to work with, a figure up to nine when Kulusevski returns and 10 when Maddison is back.
And it creates a puzzle to solve because they do not all fit into the Champions League squad, which is reduced to 22 players in Tottenham’s case because they cannot fill the club-trained quota.