How Often do Teams Win from Behind (Premier League)

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Another football stats post today, this time I will be looking at how often teams win from behind in the English premier League (I will be looking at the last 5 seasons form 2016 / 2017 onwards).

To clarify what I am looking at here, I will be classing a “win from behind” as any fixture where one team (either home or away) has been loosing at any point in the game and has then gone on to finish up winning the game. Also, for the purposes of this post, I am not taking into account the number of goals behind the team winning form behind was at any given point in the fixture (so, simply being 1 goal behind then winning would count the same as been multiple goals behind then winning in the same way).

How Often do Teams Win from Behind in the Premier League?

To start this section off I am going answer the main question of this post, how often do teams in the English Premier League win form behind?

As usual, with these football stats related posts, I will be making use of my own SQL Server based football stats database to both find, process and deliver the underlying data. This begins below where I have listed the number of games per season and what percentage of them are home team wins from behind, away team wins from behind and then the total number of games where either team has won from behind.

Season	No_Fixtures	Home_Wins	Away_Wins	Draws	Home_WFB	%_Home_WFB	Away_WFB	%_Away_WFB	Total_WFB	%_Total_WFB
2020/2021	380	144	153	83	24	6.31	33	8.68	57	15
2019/2020	380	172	116	92	34	8.94	13	3.42	47	12.36
2018/2019	380	181	128	71	27	7.1	16	4.21	43	11.31
2017/2018	380	173	108	99	26	6.84	19	5	45	11.84
2016/2017	380	187	109	84	27	7.1	19	5	46	12.1

Table Key: WFB = Wins From Behind

As can be seen using the data in the table above (over the last 5 seasons of the English Premier League), we see that teams go on to win form behind approximately 12% to 15% of the time overall (this equates to an average of 47.6 games been won from behind per season). Interestingly, this data also shows us that home teams tend to win form behind slightly more often than away teams do with an average of 27.6 games won from behind (per season) over the last 5 seasons versus away teams averaging just 20 wins form behind (per season) over the same time frame.

Moving on and in the next section I will be looking at some stats which are more focused upon the individual teams which have participated in the Premier themselves over this same time frame.

Which Premier League Teams Win from Behind the Most?

With the previous section already addressing the main stats for the entire Premier League itself, here I am going to focus more on the win form behind stats for the individual teams which make up the Premier League during any given season. This starts off below where I have created such stats on a per team / per season basis:

20/21

19/20

18/19

17/18

16/17

20/21

Which Premier League Teams Win from Behind the Most (2020 / 2021)

Team_Name	Total_Games	Total_Wins	%_Win_Rate	Total_WFB	%_Total_WFB	Total_Home_Games	Home_WFB	%_Home_WFB	Total_Away_Games	Away_WFB	%_Away_WFB
Manchester United	38	21	55.26	10	26.31	19	1	5.26	19	9	47.36
Liverpool	38	20	52.63	6	15.78	19	4	21.05	19	2	10.52
Leicester City	38	20	52.63	5	13.15	19	3	15.78	19	2	10.52
Wolverhampton Wanderers	38	12	31.57	4	10.52	19	3	15.78	19	1	5.26
West Ham United	38	19	50	4	10.52	19	0	0	19	4	21.05
Tottenham Hotspur	38	18	47.36	4	10.52	19	1	5.26	19	3	15.78
Southampton	38	12	31.57	3	7.89	19	2	10.52	19	1	5.26
Chelsea	38	19	50	3	7.89	19	2	10.52	19	1	5.26
Arsenal	38	18	47.36	3	7.89	19	1	5.26	19	2	10.52
Aston Villa	38	16	42.1	2	5.26	19	1	5.26	19	1	5.26
Manchester City	38	27	71.05	2	5.26	19	0	0	19	2	10.52
West Bromwich Albion	38	5	13.15	2	5.26	19	0	0	19	2	10.52
Crystal Palace	38	12	31.57	2	5.26	19	1	5.26	19	1	5.26
Leeds United	38	18	47.36	2	5.26	19	1	5.26	19	1	5.26
Brighton & Hove Albion	38	9	23.68	1	2.63	19	1	5.26	19	0	0
Sheffield United	38	7	18.42	1	2.63	19	1	5.26	19	0	0
Everton	38	17	44.73	1	2.63	19	1	5.26	19	0	0
Newcastle United	38	12	31.57	1	2.63	19	0	0	19	1	5.26
Burnley	38	10	26.31	1	2.63	19	1	5.26	19	0	0
Fulham	38	5	13.15	0	0	19	0	0	19	0	0

19/20

Which Premier League Teams Win from Behind the Most (2019 / 2020)

Team_Name	Total_Games	Total_Wins	%_Win_Rate	Total_WFB	%_Total_WFB	Total_Home_Games	Home_WFB	%_Home_WFB	Total_Away_Games	Away_WFB	%_Away_WFB
Liverpool	38	32	84.21	6	15.78	19	4	21.05	19	2	10.52
Wolverhampton Wanderers	38	15	39.47	4	10.52	19	1	5.26	19	3	15.78
Arsenal	38	14	36.84	4	10.52	19	3	15.78	19	1	5.26
Tottenham Hotspur	38	16	42.1	4	10.52	19	3	15.78	19	1	5.26
Leicester City	38	18	47.36	3	7.89	19	3	15.78	19	0	0
Southampton	38	15	39.47	3	7.89	19	2	10.52	19	1	5.26
Manchester City	38	26	68.42	3	7.89	19	3	15.78	19	0	0
Sheffield United	38	14	36.84	2	5.26	19	1	5.26	19	1	5.26
Brighton & Hove Albion	38	9	23.68	2	5.26	19	2	10.52	19	0	0
Crystal Palace	38	11	28.94	2	5.26	19	1	5.26	19	1	5.26
Watford	38	8	21.05	2	5.26	19	2	10.52	19	0	0
Newcastle United	38	11	28.94	2	5.26	19	2	10.52	19	0	0
Manchester United	38	18	47.36	2	5.26	19	2	10.52	19	0	0
Aston Villa	38	9	23.68	2	5.26	19	2	10.52	19	0	0
Chelsea	38	20	52.63	2	5.26	19	0	0	19	2	10.52
Burnley	38	15	39.47	1	2.63	19	1	5.26	19	0	0
West Ham United	38	10	26.31	1	2.63	19	1	5.26	19	0	0
AFC Bournemouth	38	9	23.68	1	2.63	19	1	5.26	19	0	0
Everton	38	13	34.21	1	2.63	19	0	0	19	1	5.26
Norwich City	38	5	13.15	0	0	19	0	0	19	0	0

18/19

Which Premier League Teams Win from Behind the Most (2018 / 2019)

Team_Name	Total_Games	Total_Wins	%_Win_Rate	Total_WFB	%_Total_WFB	Total_Home_Games	Home_WFB	%_Home_WFB	Total_Away_Games	Away_WFB	%_Away_WFB
Liverpool	38	30	78.94	5	13.15	19	3	15.78	19	2	10.52
West Ham United	38	15	39.47	4	10.52	19	3	15.78	19	1	5.26
Tottenham Hotspur	38	23	60.52	3	7.89	19	1	5.26	19	2	10.52
Wolverhampton Wanderers	38	16	42.1	3	7.89	19	2	10.52	19	1	5.26
Manchester United	38	19	50	3	7.89	19	2	10.52	19	1	5.26
Arsenal	38	21	55.26	3	7.89	19	3	15.78	19	0	0
Burnley	38	11	28.94	3	7.89	19	1	5.26	19	2	10.52
Leicester City	38	15	39.47	3	7.89	19	2	10.52	19	1	5.26
Cardiff City	38	10	26.31	3	7.89	19	3	15.78	19	0	0
Watford	38	14	36.84	2	5.26	19	1	5.26	19	1	5.26
Newcastle United	38	12	31.57	2	5.26	19	2	10.52	19	0	0
Chelsea	38	21	55.26	2	5.26	19	1	5.26	19	1	5.26
Fulham	38	7	18.42	2	5.26	19	2	10.52	19	0	0
Manchester City	38	32	84.21	1	2.63	19	0	0	19	1	5.26
Southampton	38	9	23.68	1	2.63	19	1	5.26	19	0	0
Brighton & Hove Albion	38	9	23.68	1	2.63	19	0	0	19	1	5.26
Crystal Palace	38	14	36.84	1	2.63	19	0	0	19	1	5.26
AFC Bournemouth	38	13	34.21	1	2.63	19	0	0	19	1	5.26
Huddersfield Town	38	3	7.89	0	0	19	0	0	19	0	0
Everton	38	15	39.47	0	0	19	0	0	19	0	0

17/18

Which Premier League Teams Win from Behind the Most (2017 / 2018)

Team_Name	Total_Games	Total_Wins	%_Win_Rate	Total_WFB	%_Total_WFB	Total_Home_Games	Home_WFB	%_Home_WFB	Total_Away_Games	Away_WFB	%_Away_WFB
AFC Bournemouth	38	11	28.94	5	13.15	19	4	21.05	19	1	5.26
Arsenal	38	19	50	4	10.52	19	3	15.78	19	1	5.26
Manchester United	38	25	65.78	4	10.52	19	2	10.52	19	2	10.52
Crystal Palace	38	11	28.94	4	10.52	19	2	10.52	19	2	10.52
Chelsea	38	21	55.26	3	7.89	19	2	10.52	19	1	5.26
Tottenham Hotspur	38	23	60.52	3	7.89	19	1	5.26	19	2	10.52
Manchester City	38	32	84.21	3	7.89	19	1	5.26	19	2	10.52
Everton	38	13	34.21	3	7.89	19	3	15.78	19	0	0
Watford	38	11	28.94	2	5.26	19	2	10.52	19	0	0
Stoke City	38	7	18.42	2	5.26	19	1	5.26	19	1	5.26
Liverpool	38	21	55.26	2	5.26	19	1	5.26	19	1	5.26
Swansea City	38	8	21.05	2	5.26	19	1	5.26	19	1	5.26
Newcastle United	38	12	31.57	2	5.26	19	1	5.26	19	1	5.26
Burnley	38	14	36.84	2	5.26	19	1	5.26	19	1	5.26
Leicester City	38	12	31.57	2	5.26	19	0	0	19	2	10.52
West Ham United	38	10	26.31	1	2.63	19	1	5.26	19	0	0
Southampton	38	7	18.42	1	2.63	19	0	0	19	1	5.26
Brighton & Hove Albion	38	9	23.68	0	0	19	0	0	19	0	0
West Bromwich Albion	38	6	15.78	0	0	19	0	0	19	0	0
Huddersfield Town	38	9	23.68	0	0	19	0	0	19	0	0

16/17

Which Premier League Teams Win from Behind the Most (2016 / 2017)

Team_Name	Total_Games	Total_Wins	%_Win_Rate	Total_WFB	%_Total_WFB	Total_Home_Games	Home_WFB	%_Home_WFB	Total_Away_Games	Away_WFB	%_Away_WFB
Liverpool	38	22	57.89	5	13.15	19	2	10.52	19	3	15.78
Tottenham Hotspur	38	26	68.42	4	10.52	19	2	10.52	19	2	10.52
Everton	38	17	44.73	4	10.52	19	3	15.78	19	1	5.26
Chelsea	38	30	78.94	4	10.52	19	2	10.52	19	2	10.52
Hull City	38	9	23.68	4	10.52	19	4	21.05	19	0	0
West Bromwich Albion	38	12	31.57	3	7.89	19	2	10.52	19	1	5.26
Crystal Palace	38	12	31.57	3	7.89	19	0	0	19	3	15.78
Swansea City	38	12	31.57	3	7.89	19	3	15.78	19	0	0
Southampton	38	12	31.57	3	7.89	19	1	5.26	19	2	10.52
West Ham United	38	12	31.57	2	5.26	19	0	0	19	2	10.52
AFC Bournemouth	38	12	31.57	2	5.26	19	2	10.52	19	0	0
Manchester City	38	23	60.52	2	5.26	19	1	5.26	19	1	5.26
Arsenal	38	23	60.52	2	5.26	19	2	10.52	19	0	0
Watford	38	11	28.94	2	5.26	19	1	5.26	19	1	5.26
Manchester United	38	18	47.36	1	2.63	19	1	5.26	19	0	0
Leicester City	38	12	31.57	1	2.63	19	1	5.26	19	0	0
Sunderland	38	6	15.78	1	2.63	19	0	0	19	1	5.26
Middlesbrough	38	5	13.15	0	0	19	0	0	19	0	0
Burnley	38	11	28.94	0	0	19	0	0	19	0	0
Stoke City	38	11	28.94	0	0	19	0	0	19	0	0

Table Key: WFB = Wins From Behind

Moving on and in the next table I have combined these stats for all eligible teams across the last 5 Premier League seasons (2016/2017 to 2020/2021):

Team_Name	Total_Games	Total_Wins	%_Win_Rate	Total_WFB	%_Total_WFB	Total_Home_Games	Home_WFB	%_Home_WFB	Total_Away_Games	Away_WFB	%_Away_WFB
Liverpool	152	105	69.07	18	11.84	76	10	13.15	76	8	10.52
Hull City	38	9	23.68	4	10.52	19	4	21.05	19	0	0
Wolverhampton Wanderers	76	31	40.78	7	9.21	38	3	7.89	38	4	10.52
Tottenham Hotspur	152	88	57.89	14	9.21	76	7	9.21	76	7	9.21
Arsenal	152	77	50.65	13	8.55	76	11	14.47	76	2	2.63
Cardiff City	38	10	26.31	3	7.89	19	3	15.78	19	0	0
Chelsea	152	92	60.52	11	7.23	76	5	6.57	76	6	7.89
Crystal Palace	152	48	31.57	10	6.57	76	3	3.94	76	7	9.21
Manchester United	152	80	52.63	10	6.57	76	7	9.21	76	3	3.94
Swansea City	76	20	26.31	5	6.57	38	4	10.52	38	1	2.63
AFC Bournemouth	152	45	29.6	9	5.92	76	7	9.21	76	2	2.63
Manchester City	152	113	74.34	9	5.92	76	5	6.57	76	4	5.26
Leicester City	152	57	37.5	9	5.92	76	6	7.89	76	3	3.94
Watford	152	44	28.94	8	5.26	76	6	7.89	76	2	2.63
Fulham	38	7	18.42	2	5.26	19	2	10.52	19	0	0
Everton	152	58	38.15	8	5.26	76	6	7.89	76	2	2.63
Aston Villa	38	9	23.68	2	5.26	19	2	10.52	19	0	0
Newcastle United	114	35	30.7	6	5.26	57	5	8.77	57	1	1.75
Sheffield United	38	14	36.84	2	5.26	19	1	5.26	19	1	5.26
West Ham United	152	47	30.92	8	5.26	76	5	6.57	76	3	3.94
Southampton	152	43	28.28	8	5.26	76	4	5.26	76	4	5.26
Burnley	152	51	33.55	6	3.94	76	3	3.94	76	3	3.94
West Bromwich Albion	76	18	23.68	3	3.94	38	2	5.26	38	1	2.63
Brighton & Hove Albion	114	27	23.68	3	2.63	57	2	3.5	57	1	1.75
Sunderland	38	6	15.78	1	2.63	19	0	0	19	1	5.26
Stoke City	76	18	23.68	2	2.63	38	1	2.63	38	1	2.63
Norwich City	38	5	13.15	0	0	19	0	0	19	0	0
Huddersfield Town	76	12	15.78	0	0	38	0	0	38	0	0
Middlesbrough	38	5	13.15	0	0	19	0	0	19	0	0

Table Key: WFB = Wins From Behind

Notice above that when we look over the last 5 full Premier League seasons we see that Liverpool has the highest rate of wins from behind overall at 12.63% of all eligible games played. Looking at home and away specific stats and we see that Hull City has the highest rate of wins from behind whilst playing at home at 21.05% and Manchester United has the highest rate of wins from behind whilst playing away games at 12.63%.

Another interesting point I wanted to highlight from the above data is how much more likely a comeback is when playing at home than it is is whilst playing away. In the above sample set of data (from 16/17 to 20/21) we saw 6 teams winning from behind at a rate of 10% or higher, a statistic which falls to just 3 teams above 10% when looking at away wins form behind (and on top of this a lower average win rate as well).

Conclusion

One of the interesting (and perhaps easy to overlook) angles to consider when looking at win from behind stats is that a) stronger teams might actually have less opportunity to win form behind and b) weaker teams might have less ability to recover whilst behind (but, of course, much more opportunity given weaker teams will loose more often). As such, when looking at wins from behind, remember it is a statistic which requires some careful thought as to what you might actually want to get from it!

And Finally…

I hope you have found this article interesting, I like to piece together such data and break away from the hum-drum (and quite frankly boring) football stats you see littered across the web. Digging deeper into stats such as those mentioned above can also help in understanding teams and leagues much better in terms of their performance, in turn this knowledge can then used to help develop successful football trading strategies (such as those discussed in my football trading strategies article).

If you are interested in building up you own, professional standard, football stats database and in-turn learning the skills needed to query it and develop such stats for yourself, please check out my detailed eBook course: Supercharge Your Football Betting Stats!

Furthermore, if you are looking for detailed football data (including in-game events data for goals etc.) then be sure to take a look at my Pro-Data football data service. With Pro-Data you can gain access to highly detailed football data and stats which is updated every day for a simple, one-off annual fee. Pro-Data also comes with a 14 day risk-free money back guarantee meaning it is definitely worth a look if you are interested in pursuing more advanced football stats for yourself!

Disclaimer

All of the above data is contained within my own (private) football stats database, a database in which I make every reasonable effort possible to ensure is correct and accurate. This database is built with and regularly updated form a reliable 3rd party data source with my own verification checks along the way to help ensure maximum accuracy.

Having said this, please use this data for entertainment purposes only, do not use or re-produce in a commercial context and use fully at you own risk!

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