Premier League managers using five-sub rule but leaving it late

Every match last weekend saw at least four substitutions from a single team and the average team made 3.85 changes.

Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips (left) comes on as a substitute for Rodri (right) during the Premier League match at the London Stadium. Picture date: Sunday August 7, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER West Ham. Photo  Kieran Cleeves/PA Wire. 

Premier League clubs made the most of the new rule allowing five substitutions on the opening weekend of the new season — 13 of the 20 clubs made either four or five changes in their opening fixture.

While only two games saw the full complement of 10 substitutes used - Tottenham's rout of Southampton and Manchester City's win at West Ham - every match saw at least four substitutions from a single team and the average team made 3.85 changes.