Abstract

This study investigated the evolution of physical and technical performances in the English Premier League (EPL) with special reference to league ranking. Match performance observations (n=14700) were collected using a multiple-camera computerised tracking system across seven consecutive EPL seasons (2006-07 to 2012-13). Final league rankings were classified into Tiers: (A) 1st-4th ranking (n=2519), (B) 5th-8th ranking (n=2965), (C) 9th-14th ranking (n=4448) and (D) 15th-20th ranking (n=4768). Teams in Tier B demonstrated moderate increases in high-intensity running distance while in ball possession from the 2006-07 to 2012-13 season (P<0.001; Effect Size [ES]: 0.68), with Tiers A, C and D producing less pronounced increases across the same period (P<0.005; ES: 0.26, 0.41, 0.33). Large increases in sprint distance were observed from the 2006-07 to 2012-13 season for Tier B (P<0.001; ES: 1.21) while only moderate increases were evident for Tiers A, C and D (P<0.001; ES: 0.75, 0.97, 0.84). Tier B demonstrated large increases in the number of passes performed and received in 2012-13 compared to 2006-07 (P<0.001; ES: 1.32-1.53) with small-to-moderate increases in Tier A (P<0.001; ES: 0.30-0.38), Tier C (P<0.001; ES: 0.46-0.54) and Tier D (P<0.001; ES: 0.69-0.87). The point’s difference between Tiers A and B in the 2006-07 season was 8 points but this decreased to just a single point in the 2012-13 season. The data demonstrate that physical and technical performances have evolved more in Tier B than any other Tier in the EPL and could indicate a narrowing of the performance gap between the top two Tiers.