The Athletic FC Podcast Premier League trends: How to break down low blocks
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Feb 15, 2026 
Liam Tharme, tactical analyst who explains pressing patterns and coaching takeaways. Mark Carey, data-driven analyst who defines low blocks and compactness. Michael Cox, tactics writer who adds historical context on clearances and ball trends. They discuss how teams press, the reality of low blocks, practical ways to break them down, set-piece and crossing solutions, and why headed clearances and long-range goals are rising.
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Low Blocks Are More Compact, Not More Common
- Low blocks haven't become more frequent across the league, but their quality and compactness have increased.
- Mark Carey highlights Sunderland and Burnley as examples of especially compact low blocks that frustrate top teams.
Who Uses High Blocks And Why
- High blocks are concentrated among territorially dominant teams who can sustain counter-pressing.
- Brighton rank highly because they win possession in the final third and deploy energetic forwards to squeeze the pitch.
Use Backpasses And Tempo To Create Space
- Pass backwards to lure the low block forward and create space to attack from a mid-block.
- Move the ball quickly and overload zones to shuffle defenders and exploit a momentary breakdown.