Ranking the Top 5 Premier League Passing Sides
When played well, the passing game is a joy to watch. In the Premier League, this style of football is becoming more prevalent, especially with the addition of several fantastic players from overseas.
English sides are rarely praised for their ability to implement this passing style. Such acclaim is often reserved for sides playing on the Mediterranean, particularly in Spain. Barcelona are the side most pundits would title the "passing masters of Europe."
Here, we rank the top five teams in the Premier League based on accuracy and the total number of successful passes.
Statistics via Squawka.
5. Liverpool
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Total Successful Passes: 4,733
Passing Accuracy: 85%
Brendan Rodgers' favoured tiki-taka football has certainly rubbed off on Liverpool during his period in charge of the club. It’s well known that the Northern Irishman likes Liverpool to play good attacking football, with lots of short passing designed to tire the opposition.
The Reds have been in fantastic form this season and they currently occupy second place in the league. Having won seven and lost just two matches, Rodgers' philosophy seems to have had a big impact on the side. If we compare their performances now to the same stage last season, it’s clear to see how far the side has evolved.
4. Chelsea
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Total Successful Passes: 4,780
Passing Accuracy: 85%
Chelsea have a fine array of talented players throughout their squad. The likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole have combined to create a core that allows for a more pass-based style to be seamlessly implemented.
Jose Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge hasn’t been as successful as he would have hoped. However, the club is making steady progress. The Blues currently sit in fourth place in the Premier League, four points behind leaders Arsenal.
3. Arsenal
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Total Successful Passes: 5,099
Passing Accuracy: 85%
Arsenal have a number of excellent passers in Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, but the summer acquisition of Mesut Ozil has taken the club’s passing game to a whole new level.
Arsene Wenger has always opted for fast flowing, attacking football, and the Gunners have excelled so far this season.
The Frenchman's outfit currently occupy first place in the Premier League, and it is fair to say they look fantastic for the lead.
2. Swansea
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Total Successful Passes: 5,271
Passing Accuracy: 86%
With Michael Laudrup in charge at Swansea, it is probably not a surprise that the Welsh club are a good passing team.
The squad likes to keep possession of the ball by moving it around the field. It is a style of football that has earned Swansea a number of fans since the club's rise to the English top flight.
However, with his side in 13th place, Laudrup must start encouraging his players to turn their possession into goals.
1. Manchester City
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Total Successful Passes: 5,329
Passing Accuracy: 87%
While Manuel Pellegrini’s side currently find themselves in eighth place based on points, they currently lead the Premier League in terms of passing.
The short-pass, possession football that "The Engineer" opts to play hasn’t always worked this season, hence the position they presently find themselves in. However, when it does come off, City certainly benefit from the results.
The club’s monumental wins over Manchester United and Norwich were fine examples of this attacking style.
