DISTANCE data is now an accepted metric when judging a team, or a player’s, impact on a game. However, while racking up the kilometres can look impressive, it’s the intelligence of the runs that truly separates the Premier League prized cockerels from the headless chickens.
Attackers running in behind is a nightmare for a defender, and no one is a bigger thorn in the side of Premier League backlines than Manchester United summer signing Bryan Mbeumo.
The Cameroon wingman’s haul of 20 goal involvements in the Premier League last season earned his big money move to Old Trafford, but Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim will no doubt have also been taken by his new player’s mobility.
Mbeumo’s performance against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday caught the eye, despite the 0-1 defeat at the hands of the Gunners, and central to this impressive display was his ability to run in behind attack-minded left-back Riccardo Calafiori.
Indeed, Mbeumo’s tally of 16 runs in-behind was the most of any player on the opening weekend and continued his penchant for giving his full-back the run-around last season, where he also topped the rankings.
The 26-year-old could well prove to be one of the signings of the season for Ruben Amorim and co.
| PL 24-25 | Runs In Behind | PL 25-26 | Runs In Behind | |
| Bryan Mbeumo | 418 | Bryan Mbeumo | 16 | |
| Ollie Watkins | 407 | Ollie Watkins | 13 | |
| Mohamed Salah | 390 | Beto | 13 | |
| Nicolas Jackson | 357 | João Pedro | 12 | |
| Jørgen Strand Larsen | 342 | Marshall Munetsi | 12 | |
| Jean-Philippe Mateta | 327 | Anthony Gordon | 12 |
Another player whose running caught the eye last season was Enzo Fernandez. The Chelsea midfielder took some time to make his mark in the Premier League, but in 2024-25, he was outstanding, forming a solid midfield twosome with Moses Caicedo and registering 13 goal involvements (6 goals 7 assists), eight more than he managed in the top flight for the Blues in 2023-24 (5).
Key to Fernandez’s increased attacking threat was his eagerness to get into the box when a teammate had possession of the ball in wide areas, providing a cross option 119 times, significantly more often than any other central midfielder.
Indeed, on Match Day 1 of this season’s Premier League, Fernandez looked to get on the end of a potential cross seven times, also more than any other player in any position.
Expect another pivotal season from the World Cup winner in 2025-26.
| PL 24-25 – Central Midfielders | Cross Option | PL 24-25 | Cross Option | |
| Enzo Fernández | 119 | Enzo Fernández | 7 | |
| Tomás Soucek | 73 | Florian Wirtz | 6 | |
| Curtis Jones | 69 | Hugo Ekitiké | 5 | |
| Bruno Guimarães | 65 | João Pedro | 5 | |
| Ilkay Gündogan | 61 | Jørgen Strand Larsen | 5 |
While the penchant for inverted full-backs continues to flourish in the Premier League, full-backs who bomb up the line and overlap their wingers are still a valuable commodity.
One such full-back, Antonee Robinson, enjoyed an outstanding 2024-25 for Fulham, registering 10 assists in the Premier League, more than any other defender, and was bettered overall by just three players (Mohamed Salah 18, Jacob Murphy 12, Anthony Elanga 11).
The American defender remains out of action, recovering from knee surgery, but he was full of vim and vigour last term, racking up a league-high 93 overlapping runs.
New Liverpool signing Milos Kerkez also ranked highly here while Eddie Howe’s preference for forward-thinking full-backs is borne out by Newcastle pair, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, making up the top four.
| PL 24-25 | Overlapping Runs |
| Antonee Robinson | 93 |
| Tino Livramento | 86 |
| Milos Kerkez | 69 |
| Lewis Hall | 55 |
| Aaron Wan-Bissaka | 51 |
| Daniel Muñoz | 47 |
Another full-back who shone in 2024-25 for his work rate was Daniel Muñoz, with the Colombian
a study in perpetual energy on the right flank.
Always, eager to attack, the Colombian was also quick to retreat when needed, tracking back to his wing-back position 234 times during the Premier League season, more than any other player.
Manchester United stalwart, Bruno Fernandes, has more than his fair share of critics but the Portuguese playmaker has been one of the Red Devils’ shining lights during a dark and dreary period.
Along with his creativity, the former Sporting man has an impressive work ethic, exemplified by his haul of 41 runs tracking an opponent with the ball last season in the Premier League, the joint-most of any player in the top-flight in 2024-25.
| PL 24-25 | Tracking Player With Ball |
| Bruno Fernandes | 41 |
| Justin Kluivert | 41 |
| Idrissa Gueye | 40 |
| Marcus Tavernier | 40 |
| James Justin | 39 |
With the cash splashed in impressive style this summer, the 2025-26 edition of the Premier League looks set to be a monumental one, with a number of sides looking like genuine title contenders and the newly-promoted teams likely to do better than their 2024-25 counterparts.
With many miles to be covered, let’s hope it’s a season to remember!
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