What if... the season was all about the first 45 minutes?
As the dust settles on the 2024-25 Premier League season, we have been taking a look at some of the alternative ways the the table could have finished...Football games are 90 minutes long. They have been for more than 150 years.So, what if they weren't? What if only the first 45 minutes mattered?Some teams like to lead from the front, come out the blocks flying and try and get the job done before half-time.If that had been the case this season and it all came down to that first half showing, then it would not have been Liverpool lifting the trophy, but in fact Arsenal winning their first league title in over 20 years.With 20 wins, 13 draws and five defeats, the Gunners were the kings of the first half. Four points behind them were Manchester City - a team that has for so long been able to control games from start to finish, but during their difficult spell with injuries and results, this was something they seemed to lack.If the league really came down to this metric, Brentford fans would be planning for a Champions League adventure. While the Bees were fast starters this campaign, being able to back that up across the 90 minutes was their Achilles heel (ranking 14th in the second half).And what about this year's Premier League champions? Arsenal may have had the number when it came to first halves, but Liverpool well and truly led the way in the second...
What if the season was all about the second 45 minutes?
While some prefer to get their nose in front, others prefer a half-time reset or back themselves to get the job done later in the game.One of those teams was Arne Slot's Reds.They won 24 of their 38 second-halves, drew nine and lost just five. If it was this 45 minutes alone that counted, they would have had 81 points and - just like in the actual season - been runaway winners.Another club that enjoyed success after half time was Chelsea.Ranking seventh in the first-half table, the Blues were often in a position where they needed to turn things around or dig out a result in the second 45 and, despite the young age of the team, managed 17 wins in second halves.A side deserving an honourable mention here is Crystal Palace.They may have finished 12th in the 2024-25 league table after a underwhelming start, but when it came to getting a result in the second half, with 16 wins,12 draws and 10 defeats, they were up there alongside some of the best in the league.*Table data from Football365
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times
23 minutes ago
- Times
The best luxury resortwear for women
It seems 2025 is the year of the resortwear renaissance. Perhaps it's down to the HBO hit The White Lotus or simply a desire for some escapism, but holiday clothes feel far more luxe and grown-up than ever right now. Instead of being overtly beachy with loud botanical prints and gaudy Hawaiian shirts, this new age of resortwear is relaxed, refined, and far easier to incorporate into summery situations — from fancy beach clubs to private airport lounges. From Missoni's stylish stripes to Camilla's bejewelled beach cover-ups and Loewe's playful accessories, here are the luxury labels providing the ritziest resortwear for women this summer. • This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue With its nuanced colour palette and simple silhouettes, the contemporary resortwear brand Eleventy was made for those who probably vowed they would never wear traditional beachwear. In the place of the usual tropical prints and brash colours, there are breezy open-knit sweaters to throw over bikinis, matching linen sets for beach-club lunches and a collection of tailored dresses to complete your holiday wardrobe. While elegance is usually associated with classic staples and refined womenswear, when Emilio Pucci founded his namesake brand in 1947 he was on a mission to bring a new meaning to the word — to prove that elegance could be fast, joyful, spontaneous and effortless. His unique sense of colour, geometric prints and comfortable silk-jersey designs were made for those with a jet-set lifestyle and worn by the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy. Founded by Lesleigh Jermanus, a former designer for Zimmermann, the Australian brand Alémais has grown a reputation since 2020 for its vibrant and original prints that are often created in collaboration with independent artists. You'll find whimsical prints and ruffled silhouettes among its collection of romantic shirtdresses and matching twin sets, as well as hero slip styles that'll see you through every summery scenario. For the past seven years Loewe has partnered with the legendary Ibiza boutique Paula's to create a resortwear collection full of memorable, playful accessories as well as staple holiday pieces. Inspired by bestselling silhouettes from the luxury Spanish house, an archive full of exuberant prints and the sunny island in the 1970s, there are raffia bags, modern takes on traditional espadrilles and effortlessly cool bohemian skirts on offer. In 1953, the now-iconic Italian label Missoni started out producing knitted tracksuits and pioneered the use of the Raschel knitting machine and new ways of incorporating both colour and texture in performance wear. Seventy years later and its iconic zigzag pattern designs, innovative knitted sets and unique colour combinations are much more likely to be spotted in holiday destinations than on the track. They have extended to cover crochet swimwear, floor-sweeping kaftans and throw-on-and-go rompers. This year the Australian luxury brand Camilla partnered with the Sydney-based artist Lezio Lopes — who was behind the opening credit sequence for the first and second seasons of The White Lotus — to create a collection of lavish resortwear inspired by the three worlds of the award-winning series. Tropical blossoms, opulent architecture and animal life of Hawaii, Italy and Thailand were hidden within each limited edition print in ode to the complex, intriguing and enigmatic residents of the White Lotus. Aside from this partnership, all Camilla's collections feature hand-drawn prints, painted by in-house artists. Pieces are cut, sewn and embellished by hand too. The Brazilian fashion brand PatBo started as a label exclusively offering couture evening wear to the Sao Paulo elite, creating one-of-a-kind gowns for clients and sewing everything by hand. In 2002, the founder Patricia Bonaldi brought her passion for bold, feminine designs and intricate hand embroidery to the swimwear scene with high-waisted bikinis and Eighties-inspired high-leg on pieces. Since then she has branched out to an accompanying resortwear line — from feminine ruffled blouses to skimpy cut-out dresses. What started as a swimwear line has evolved into a full lifestyle brand, and now the Colombian fashion designer Johanna Ortiz offers ready-to-wear, swim, accessories and even a home collection. Inspired by nature, pieces use tropical prints in inoffensive, calming colour palettes such as beige and burgundy or khaki and cream. Loyal customers include Princess Caroline of Monaco, Beyoncé, Michelle Obama and Amal Clooney.
Times
23 minutes ago
- Times
You too can dress like Paul Mescal — the best short shorts for summer
The question in fashion circles is not so much whether it will be a short summer, but will it be a shorts summer? This time last year it was most definitely the latter, largely thanks to Paul Mescal, who before he graced our screens in a leather skirt in Gladiator II, set tongues wagging after showing up at a Gucci men's fashion show in the briefest of shorts — cotton with stripes — teamed with socks, loafers and told GQ at the time: 'I'm a big advocate for men wearing shorter shorts.' And indeed the Irish actor has made the micro short something of a wardrobe signature for a few years now. But though he told a five-year-old caller on a Radio 1 phone-in, in response to their question of why his shorts are so short, 'They're sports shorts … they're just very practical for exercise, and they're great for running in,' let's face it — the Gucci skimpies were not about being workout ready. This was a fashion statement and heralded a shift of focus from that traditional male area of musculature, the six-pack. • This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue That being said, Mescal was not wrong in his designating this sort of micro short the friend of track and field. Look at the glamorous tennis stars of old — Borg and McEnro era — and you'll see the style in its heyday. It's just when you bring it into an everyday context, it becomes something quite different. The funny thing is that in the rise of the men's short short — literally — we have the male equivalent of that hoary old fashion barometer, the female hemline. Forever a source of cultural comment, the movement of skirt and dress lengths is seen as an indication not only of aesthetic pendulum swings, but also of changing attitudes to permissiveness. Early 20th-century styles with a hangover from Victorian decorum saw modest, long hemlines, while the roaring, decadent 1920s championed shorter flapper models. Later, the 1940s dipped to knee length or below, and then there was a longer drop to mid-calf, as advocated by Dior's New Look, in the 1950s mid-length trend. This would be torpedoed by the anything-goes miniskirted 1960s. So what does today's Mescal micro short signify? Are we seeing a type of sexual revolution where men are saying proudly, to paraphrase ZZ Top, 'We got legs, we know how to use them'? Possibly. It's certainly a trend that's still here for spring/summer 2025 — you can expect it to be on display not just in a park or on a beach near you soon, but also on the high street, at the coffee shop and — whisper it — in the flexible work sphere. And designers are ready to fulfil demand: scantily cut shorts are on offer in the collections of Gucci (striped cotton shorts with embroidery), Tom Ford (shiny rayon satin shorts with piping), Celine Homme (grey School Boy shorts in wool), Orlebar Brown (the tailored fit Norwich style in linen or seersucker), Polo Ralph Lauren (the 15cm Polo Prepster linen short in multiple colours) and so it goes on. One advocate of short shorts is the actor Luke Evans, whose own fashion collection of casual wear, all T-shirts and sweatshirts and joggers, features some very high-cut shorts. Given that the name of his brand, BDXY, comes from the words 'Bold' and 'Sexy' we should not be surprised. The Cameo shorts (Evans has named all his items after roles on a film set) with their sculpted leg design, contrast stripes and colours (burgundy, army green, white and black) unashamedly nod to the sportswear of the Eighties. And the Welsh movie star reveals that short shorts have a classy provenance. 'The inspiration came directly from JFK Jr, who was the epitome of style and youthful sex appeal,' Evans says. 'He wore the short short perfectly and we wanted to bring the style back and honour what was such a masculine, bold and attractive fashion choice for a man at the beach, by the pool, on the tennis court, on the boat or at the gym.' Channelling the American socialite son of John and Jackie Kennedy, Evans regularly wears the Cameo style himself. 'For me it's about comfort and freedom. And it allows for a much better tan on the whole leg,' he says. 'Also it forces me to never miss leg day at the gym!' It's worth pointing out here that Luke Evans, like Paul Mescal, is a Hollywood actor. Though now in his forties, he has the buff body of a man half his age. For those of us less blessed, it might be worth pointing out that BDXY is adding a new style: 'We are launching a mid-length short soon that isn't a short short, so we can appeal to the less brave,' he reveals. 'But our short shorts have been extremely popular.' So is it brave or foolish for a man of a certain age — movie stars in peak condition excepted — to try this style? To find out I conducted some targeted research. Very targeted. I asked Rowan, my son's 24-year-old girlfriend, what she thought of the trend. 'I love it,' she said enthusiastically. Why? 'Because it makes men get their legs out.' And is there an age at which we should consider something less high-rise, I inquired. 'Oh yes,' she replied. 'About 29.' Guess how old Mr Mescal is.
Daily Mirror
39 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko decision close as exits confirmed
Arsenal are yet to decide whether to move for Sporting goal machine Viktor Gyokeres or RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, but sporting director Andrea Berta is a busy man Arsenal are in the middle of a crucial period of the summer transfer window, with crunch time approaching in the race to sign top-class players. The Gunners know they need to bolster their squad if they are to win silverware next season and are determined to make the most of the current window. Mikel Arteta has guided his side to three successive second-place finishes in the Premier League, while Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League in the semi-finals by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain. New sporting director Andrea Berta is in place and is the man tasked with recruiting players capable of taking Arsenal to the next level. The transfer window has opened early this summer, due to the Club World Cup, and the club have wasted no time in getting down to business. A world-class striker is the No.1 priority on Berta's list and the former Atletico Madrid man is working on it. Meanwhile, he knows that exits are also needed to help accommodate the new signings, who will include Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who should be the first arrival of the summer for £51million. Here are the latest headlines from Mirror Football. Arsenal release 17 players Arsenal have confirmed the players who will leave the club on June 30 after not being offered new contracts. Among the list of youngsters from the academy are Jorginho, Kieran Tierney and Raheem Sterling. Jorginho is expected to move to Flamengo as a free agent once his deal expires. His departure will be covered for by the arrival of Zubimendi, who is a similar kind of player. Tierney has been linked with a return to Celtic and has already bid farewell to the club's fans with a statement. 'I feel so lucky that I've played for this club and the love that the supporters have given me has been amazing,' he said. 'I've loved every day here and I've learned so much, I've improved so much and I just feel very lucky.' Sterling, meanwhile, will return to Chelsea after his loan spell came to an end. The veteran forward failed to make an impact at Arsenal and will face an uncertain future this summer. Sesko vs Gyokeres decision Andrea Berta is still exploring the financial frameworks that would be required to sign Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko this summer. The Arsenal sporting director is the man in charge of leading the chase for a striker, but he is taking his time. Mirror Football understands that Gyokeres would be willing to join the Gunners, and Sporting would be willing to sell, if they stump up £60m as a transfer fee and well in excess of £200,000-a-week to make him one of the club's top earners. Arsenal have been tracking Sesko for longer and the RB Leipzig star is reported to have 'near universal backing' at the club due to his stronger data. Partey talks continuing Arsenal have confirmed that they remain in talks with Thomas Partey over a new contract. Partey's current deal will expire on June 30, but the club want to keep him in north London. Speaking recently, Arteta made it clear that Berta is the man tasked with keeping the midfielder, saying: "The intention is very clear. I'll leave that to Andrea and the club to take a step forward." The 31-year-old has attracted interest from Spain, where he previously played for Atletico Madrid before a £45m move to Arsenal. Barcelona have reportedly held talks over signing the Ghana international on a free transfer, but it seems likely he will stay put. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
