As the new Premier League season approaches, clubs are turning to unconventional pre‑season fixtures that deviate from the traditional 90‑minute format. These experiments range from truncated halves to marathon matches that stretch well beyond the standard duration.
Why the Change?
The primary motivation is to distribute playing time more evenly across squads, giving fringe players a chance to build match sharpness while the first‑team regulars gradually increase their workload. Sports scientists advise that shorter, high‑intensity bouts can raise stamina without overburdening athletes who are still easing back into competition.
Liverpool, for instance, will face Como in two separate 90‑minute fixtures, effectively delivering a full 180 minutes of competitive minutes to their roster. Leeds United and RB Leipzig previously contested a 120‑minute friendly split into two 60‑minute halves, while Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace have taken part in tournaments where games are reduced to 45‑minute halves.
Some clubs have gone even further, staging matches that are divided into four 30‑minute quarters, as Leicester City and Bristol Rovers demonstrated. These formats allow coaches to rotate line‑ups more frequently and ensure that a larger portion of the squad experiences competitive pressure before the campaign starts.
The shift also aligns with the league’s recent rule change permitting five substitutions per match. By using more substitutes, teams can keep the intensity high while managing minutes, a strategy that mirrors the recommendations of fitness experts who advocate for progressive load increases rather than a sudden jump to full‑match intensity.
Tournaments such as the Como Cup and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup have embraced 45‑minute games, rotating teams to guarantee each player a chance to feature. The underlying principle is simple: give every member of the squad enough minutes to adapt to the physical demands of top‑level football while avoiding the risk of overuse injuries during the preparatory phase.
Ultimately, the varied pre‑season formats reflect a broader philosophy that there is no one‑size‑fits‑all blueprint for player development. Each club tailors its schedule to its specific fitness targets, squad depth and tactical needs, but the shared goal remains the same: to enter the opening weekend with a fully prepared, match‑ready contingent.