The Athletic’s 2025-26 Alternative Premier League Awards | OneFootball

Arsenal ended a 22-year wait for the Premier League, clinched in the penultimate gameweek. Erling Haaland won the Golden Boot with 27, Bruno Fernandes set a record 21 assists, and David Raya’s 19 clean sheets earned a third Golden Glove. This is the first time Pep Guardiola has gone two successive seasons without a league title since 2008.

NY Times reports that the Alternative Premier League awards spotlight quirks from set pieces to stoppage time.

Manchester United improved by 29 points from last season’s 15th, the league’s biggest rise and the only jump above 12. Liverpool fell to fifth on 60 points, 24 down on their title-winning campaign.

Newcastle lost a league-high 27 points from winning positions, with Eddie Howe admitting they became too passive despite wanting to push for more goals. Villa topped points gained from behind with 23, capped by a 2-1 comeback at Manchester City and a Europa League triumph.

Liverpool were stoppage-time specialists, scoring 10 after 90 minutes and conceding seven. Teenager Rio Ngumoha struck a 100th minute winner against Newcastle early.

Set pieces surged as inswingers hit 70 per cent, up from 41 per cent in 2018-19. Arsenal led overall, with Manchester United best in attack at 8.2 goals per 100 and Arsenal conceding only 3.3, a net 4.3 per 100.

Crystal Palace sent 73 per cent of attacking-third throw-ins into the box, the league’s highest rate. Brentford scored a best-in-division six from long throws, with Sunderland and Leeds adding five and three.

Source: NY Times