Brighton's long-range gamble: Why Diego Gómez's 51-metre strike signals a rare shift in Premier League shooting
A goal from the halfway line bucks a clear trend
Diego Gómez's remarkable strike in Brighton's 5-0 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday was struck from 51.3 metres out. It put the effort eighth on the list of Premier League goals scored from the furthest distance since 2006-07, and it has pushed Brighton close to the league record for shots from 50 metres or more in a single season.
The goal arrives at a time when Premier League football has been moving in the opposite direction. The first six seasons for which the data is available, starting from 2003-04, are the six highest for the proportion of shots taken from outside the penalty area. The five most recent, from 2022-23 to 2026-27, have produced the lowest figures on record, each seeing 35% or fewer shots attempted from range.
Data-led clubs favour quality over distance
Analysts argue that the shift is linked to the growing use of expected goals (xG), which shows that the closer a shot is taken to goal, the more likely it is to score. Thomas Frank spoke about "making the chance bigger" during his time at Brentford, and for three seasons running his side were among the Premier League's top two teams for the average xG value of each shot they attempted.
Shooting from distance is widely seen as a high-risk strategy that is less likely to pay off, which is why it has fallen out of favour. Brighton, however, are one of the league's most prominent data-driven clubs in both recruitment and tactics, which makes their recent long-range attempts stand out.
Brighton's unusual numbers
Of the 14 shots attempted from 50 metres or more in the Premier League in 2026-27, six have been taken by Brighton players, or 42.9%. That accounts for 6.5% of all Brighton shots from anywhere on the pitch. Six such attempts after just seven games is already the second-highest total by a team on record in a Premier League season, behind Blackpool's 2010-11 side, who attempted nine.
Charlie Adam remains the player with the most shots from more than 50 metres in Premier League history, with 25 attempts. Those efforts, however, were often seen as speculative, and Blackpool's record nine attempts in 2010-11 did not hit the target once.
Is there a plan behind the shots?
Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler was asked about the topic after Gómez's goal and was unequivocal: "We don't train shots from 50 metres," he said. Some of the club's long-range efforts appear opportunistic, including Chema Andrés' attempt against Arsenal when David Raya was well out of his goal. However, the numbers suggest there may be some instruction, or at least an allowance, for players to try long-range shots during open play.
Analysts suggest that a credible long-range threat could push goalkeepers to stand deeper, opening space for Brighton's through balls and drawing defences back, which suits the club's style of play. Looking at goalkeeper positions when Brighton have taken these shots, the keeper was closest to goal for Gómez's successful effort, suggesting that the threat may have been real even if the expectation to score was not.
More than a Brighton story
Brighton are the driving force behind the trend, but it may extend across the league. A shot from 50 metres or more is being taken every five games this season. The highest frequency in the last 20 Premier League seasons was one every 17.3 games in 2011-12. Even excluding Brighton, the rate this season is still an all-time high of one every 8.75 games.
Hull City have also recorded four attempts from 50 metres or more this season. Discounting both Hull and Brighton, there have still been four such shots in 2026-27, equating to one every 17.5 games, the second-highest rate on record and only marginally behind 2011-12. The average shot distance has also risen by 0.6 metres this season, the biggest increase between any two campaigns since 2006-07.
A tactic returning from another era?
Long-range shooting may be making a comeback because players are more technically capable than ever, and goalkeepers are playing further from their line, sometimes leaving their goal unguarded. Whether this is an early-season quirk or a deliberate tactic remains unclear. Hürzeler's comments suggest Brighton are not formally training for these shots, but the data indicates that the possibility is not being ignored.