Sports
The 25/26 Premier League Table if Shots That Hit the Woodwork Had Gone In
Quite often in the Premier League, matches can be decided by the finest of margins. It might take a lucky bounce falling to the feet of an open attacker, an error from a goalkeeper, or the woodwork denying a team an all-important goal.
The latter can be especially cruel, particularly as the attacking team has come within inches of scoring. In 2025/26, it’s Manchester United who lead the way when it comes to hitting the bar and post, with 18 strikes coming close to finding the back of the net.
But what if their fortunes were different? How might the Premier League look if we took goalposts out of the picture completely? The team at Opta have crunched the numbers to find out how those nearly-moments would have changed matches if the shots had actually gone in. And there’s a notable change in the English top flight.
Supercomputer Predicts 2025-26 Premier League Table in Full
The Premier League table could look very different in some key areas by the time May rolls around.
Premier League Table if Shots That Hit Woodwork Went in: 20-16
While the top of the table would look remarkably different, there’s very little change in the relegation zone. All of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley and West Ham remain in the bottom three, and in the case of the two teams in claret and blue, they would actually be worse off.
Burnley lose one point, while Nuno Espirito Santo’s side would lose three, putting them even further adrift of safety. Although Wolves would still be at the foot of the table, the Old Gold would at least have an extra point to their name.
Nottingham Forest remain 17th, and while the Tricky Trees do lose two points, West Ham’s misfortune would open up the gap between the two to four points. But in 16th lie Fulham, who actually lose more points than all teams. Marco Silva’s side, who currently lie 12th on 34 points, would have five removed from their tally if the woodwork was not there to save them.
|
Premier League Table if Shots That Hit Woodwork Went in (20-16) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Team |
Actual Points |
Points If There was No Woodwork |
|
20 |
Wolves |
10 |
11 |
|
19 |
Burnley |
18 |
17 |
|
18 |
West Ham |
24 |
21 |
|
17 |
Nottingham Forest |
27 |
25 |
|
16 |
Fulham |
34 |
29 |
Premier League Table if Shots That Hit Woodwork Went in: 15-11
Although Leeds United would actually be on fewer points than they are presently, other teams dropping around them means that the Whites would in fact remain 15th in this hypothetical table. Crystal Palace, however, would drop one spot due to rival clubs rising.
Tottenham have endured a difficult season under Thomas Frank, who has since been replaced by Igor Tudor. But while critics have been within their rights to target the north Londoners, there has been an element of unluckiness too. Spurs would in fact have two extra points had the post and bar been taken out of play, rising from 16th to 13th.
Brighton, though, are one of the bigger winners here, as four extra points would have been claimed had the post and bar benefitted them and harmed other teams. Bournemouth, meanwhile, would fall out of the top 10 through no fault of their own. The only team to see no change in their overall points tally, the Cherries simply lose out because the teams around them pick up some extra wins and draws.
|
Premier League Table if Shots That Hit Woodwork Went in (15-11) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Team |
Actual Points |
Points If There was No Woodwork |
|
15 |
Leeds United |
30 |
29 |
|
14 |
Crystal Palace |
32 |
30 |
|
13 |
Tottenham |
29 |
31 |
|
12 |
Brighton |
31 |
35 |
|
11 |
Bournemouth |
37 |
37 |
Premier League Table if Shots That Hit Woodwork Went in: 10-6
Just one point separate Everton and Newcastle in the real table, with David Moyes’ side ahead presently. However, their fortunes are flipped without the woodwork. Both teams pick up extra points to take their totals to 38, although it’s the Magpies who steal a march on the Toffees due to their superior goal difference.
Brentford have seen their post and bar hit fewer times than any other team in the Premier League so far. The woodwork has come to their aid on just three occasions and, consequently, there’s not much change in their points total. The deduction of one point does mean that they fall one place in the table, though.
Sunderland’s remarkable season might well have been even more impressive had they managed to see more of their shots fly in off the post instead of off of them. The Black Cats’ tally rises to 40, which would have resulted in them moving up more than any other team in the league.
The same cannot be said, though, for Aston Villa. Currently third in the league, Unai Emery’s side would have lost four points and three places had opposition strikes gone in instead of hitting the woodwork. Opta’s data indicates that they are outperforming their expected points total by 17.5, which perhaps illustrates that there has been a hint of good fortune around their campaign thus far.
|
Premier League Table if Shots That Hit Woodwork Went in (10-6) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Team |
Actual Points |
Points If There was No Woodwork |
|
10 |
Everton |
37 |
38 |
|
9 |
Newcastle |
36 |
38 |
|
8 |
Brentford |
40 |
39 |
|
7 |
Sunderland |
36 |
40 |
|
6 |
Aston Villa |
50 |
46 |
Premier League Table if Shots That Hit Woodwork Went in: 5-1
Although the top five remain as they are, their positions are slightly more jumbled up. Liverpool and Chelsea both rise to fifth and fourth respectively, with the Blues breaking the 50-point mark had the post and bar not denied them so frequently.
In third, though, lie Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s side have been saved by the woodwork more than it’s cost them, as the set-piece kings lose three points to lose their grip on the Premier League’s summit. While not a dramatic change in total, it’s Manchester United’s improvement which costs them.
The Red Devils, having hit the post or bar more than any other team, would have 10 additional points had their fortunes been slightly different, with them ahead of the Gunners on goal difference. Michael Carrick has managed to turn the tide at Old Trafford, but perhaps this serves to highlight that Ruben Amorim was unfortunate prior to his sacking.
Although United pick up more points than any other team here, it’s still not enough for them to catch their local rivals. Manchester City and Pep Guardiola pick up four additional points, with only Bruno Fernandes (5) hitting the woodwork more than striker Erling Haaland (4) according to PlayerStats. If the Sky Blues can find a more clinical edge in the business end of the season, perhaps they will manage to catch Arsenal in the race for silverware.
|
Premier League Table if Shots That Hit Woodwork Went in (5-1) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Team |
Actual Points |
Points If There was No Woodwork |
|
5 |
Liverpool |
42 |
46 |
|
4 |
Chelsea |
44 |
52 |
|
3 |
Arsenal |
58 |
55 |
|
2 |
Manchester United |
45 |
55 |
|
1 |
Manchester City |
53 |
57 |
All statistics courtesy of Opta unless stated otherwise – Correct as of 21/02/2026
Footage of Argentina players analysing England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s water bottle following Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final has emerged.
Argentina secured their place in a second successive World Cup final after coming from behind to beat England 2-1 at the Atlanta Stadium.
In what proved to be a heated encounter between the two rival nations, Argentina’s talismanic captain Lionel Messi inspired the dramatic late comeback with two assists for Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez.
New Barcelona signing Anthony Gordon had given England the lead in the 55th minute, but the European nation deployed increasingly defensive tactics as the match wore on and eventually paid the price.
Fernandez beat Pickford with a stunning strike from the edge of the box in the 85th minute before Martinez headed home a wonderful right-footed cross from Messi seven minutes later.
Argentina, who won the World Cup for the third time in Qatar four years ago, now have the opportunity to become the first team to successfully defend the iconic trophy since Brazil in 1962 when they face Spain at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.
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World Cup History Quiz
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Pickford’s Water Bottle Found by Argentina Players
In the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s semi-final, Argentina’s players found Pickford’s discarded water bottle.
Attached was a label featuring detailed information on how Pickford should dive based on every Argentina player’s likely penalty technique if the semi-final had gone to a shootout.
For example, Pickford was planning to ‘Fake Left – Dive Right’ against Messi, while a simple ‘Dive Right’ and ‘Dive Left’ were the instructions for facing Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez, respectively.
Messi appeared particularly keen on studying the instructions on Pickford’s water bottle. The 2026 Ballon d’Or contender, who leads the race for the World Cup Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards, was seen in conversation with his teammates and coaching staff.
Enzo Fernandez was also seen reacting after reading the instructions. Watch the footage below:
Pickford’s water bottle will provide some food for thought for Messi and his teammates ahead of this weekend’s World Cup final against Spain.
As for England, they will now face fellow beaten semi-finalists France at the Miami Stadium on Saturday night in a battle for third place.
However, Tuchel hinted that motivating his heartbroken players for the ‘Bronze Medal’ match will be tough.
“None of these players, none of the French players want to play this match,” the German tactician said. ”They want to play in the final. We gave everything to be in the final. Everyone plays to win the World Cup, but it is what it is.”
Footage of Argentina players analysing England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s water bottle following Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final has emerged.
Argentina secured their place in a second successive World Cup final after coming from behind to beat England 2-1 at the Atlanta Stadium.
In what proved to be a heated encounter between the two rival nations, Argentina’s talismanic captain Lionel Messi inspired the dramatic late comeback with two assists for Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez.
New Barcelona signing Anthony Gordon had given England the lead in the 55th minute, but the European nation deployed increasingly defensive tactics as the match wore on and eventually paid the price.
Fernandez beat Pickford with a stunning strike from the edge of the box in the 85th minute before Martinez headed home a wonderful right-footed cross from Messi seven minutes later.
Argentina, who won the World Cup for the third time in Qatar four years ago, now have the opportunity to become the first team to successfully defend the iconic trophy since Brazil in 1962 when they face Spain at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.
⚽
World Cup History Quiz
You scored
out of 20
Pickford’s Water Bottle Found by Argentina Players
In the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s semi-final, Argentina’s players found Pickford’s discarded water bottle.
Attached was a label featuring detailed information on how Pickford should dive based on every Argentina player’s likely penalty technique if the semi-final had gone to a shootout.
For example, Pickford was planning to ‘Fake Left – Dive Right’ against Messi, while a simple ‘Dive Right’ and ‘Dive Left’ were the instructions for facing Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez, respectively.
Messi appeared particularly keen on studying the instructions on Pickford’s water bottle. The 2026 Ballon d’Or contender, who leads the race for the World Cup Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards, was seen in conversation with his teammates and coaching staff.
Enzo Fernandez was also seen reacting after reading the instructions. Watch the footage below:
Pickford’s water bottle will provide some food for thought for Messi and his teammates ahead of this weekend’s World Cup final against Spain.
As for England, they will now face fellow beaten semi-finalists France at the Miami Stadium on Saturday night in a battle for third place.
However, Tuchel hinted that motivating his heartbroken players for the ‘Bronze Medal’ match will be tough.
“None of these players, none of the French players want to play this match,” the German tactician said. ”They want to play in the final. We gave everything to be in the final. Everyone plays to win the World Cup, but it is what it is.”
Reigning world champions Argentina could face punishment for breaking FIFA rules immediately after their 2-1 win over England on Wednesday night. Lionel Messi and co. are through to their second successive World Cup final, but once again left it late to progress in Atlanta, Georgia.
Messi sprang into life with just seven minutes remaining. His first assist set up Enzo Fernandez’s long-range equaliser, cancelling out Anthony Gordon’s opener, before his second found the head of substitute Lautaro Martinez, who made no mistake in sealing a dramatic win over their age-old rivals.
England fans have quickly blamed Thomas Tuchel’s decision to go ultra-defensive for the Three Lions’ continued failure to end their 60-year wait to bring football home. Meanwhile, any murmurs of corruption and scandal surrounding Argentina are likely to persist, as the players appeared to break a FIFA rule during their full-time celebrations.
Argentina Players Break FIFA Rule After Dramatic England Win
During their post-match celebrations, the South Americans were found to have flouted the rules of the world football governing body. FIFA have a clear stance that prohibits any political flags, slogans and symbols from being displayed inside stadiums.
Yet, Argentina could now face punishment for their actions, according to the Express, after a banner read ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’ which references the 1982 Falklands War and translates to ‘The Malvinas (Falklands) are Argentine.’ The incident (as seen below) is expected to be reported to FIFA.
La Albiceleste manager Lionel Scaloni had tried to ease pre-match tensions when he declared it “wrong” to make the match about the conflict. Tensions remain around the Falklands, and Argentina still disputes the sovereignty of the British overseas territory.
Despite those calls to limit its political undertones, players and fans have regularly chanted about the matter throughout the knockout stages, while Argentina’s vice president caused a huge stir with her social media post ahead of the semi-final clash.
FIFA Have Already Shown Leniency With Argentina Over Falklands Tension
On each occasion, Argentina have been brought up for political messages that could quite easily stir tension between themselves and England, FIFA’s bosses have refused to step in and follow their own rules. So whether Scaloni’s side will be punished for another rule break remains to be seen.
The blind-eye approach – despite having taken flags away from Iran and England earlier in the tournament for a wide range of reasons – is not a good look for Gianni Infantino, given a petition signed by more than 10 million people is already accusing him of favouritism towards the champions.
Allegations continue to be made against him and his run-ins with Argentina. Their quarter-final opponents – Egypt – were certain football’s top dogs wanted Messi in the final for marketing reasons, and if that really is the case, then Spain will be hoping they can overcome that so-called corruption this coming Sunday night at MetLife Stadium.
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