Tottenham Hotspur are indeed leading the Premier League in the unwanted stat of possessions lost, specifically due to bad first touches this 2025-26 season, averaging 18.1 per match after 11 games played.
What it means:
This metric tracks instances where a player receives the ball but loses control on their initial touch (e.g., a heavy touch that lets an opponent intercept, or a miscontrol leading to a turnover). It’s a subset of broader “possession lost” events, which include incomplete passes, clearances, or offsides.
Why it matters:
It highlights technical sloppiness under pressure, especially for a possession-heavy side like Spurs (who rank around 5th in overall average possession at ~58%). High numbers here can disrupt build-up play and invite counters—fitting for a team that’s been chaotic in attack despite strong underlying numbers (3rd in goals scored, 2nd in goals conceded).
How Spurs Stack Up
Based on WhoScored data up to November 14, 2025 (post their 1-2 loss to Leeds), here’s the top of the table for average lost possessions via bad first touch per match. (Note: Full league-wide data isn’t granular in all sources, but Tottenham’s lead is clear.)
Spurs’ form tie-in:
This lines up with their middling results (5W-2D-3L, 6th in the table). They’ve been electric in transition but wasteful in possession, creating just ~1.2 xG from open play in their last five PL/CL games combined. Standouts like Mohammed Kudus (131 total possessions lost league-wide, many from touches) and Richarlison are contributing to the tally.
Bright side:
Their attack is clicking (13 goals, 3rd-best), and they’ve got the 2nd-best defence (5 conceded). Fixing these control issues could push them top four contenders.
Conclusion:
Despite calls from some daft fans for Thomas Frank’s head, the former Brentford gaffer is arguably overachieving with the resources available to him. If we look at the scouting at his previous club, the one key difference is Daniel Levy. A man who recently lost his job.
Tottenham finished 17th last season.
