Manchester United goalkeeper sparks buzz with clever tactic in Premier League

Manchester United's goalkeeper, Senne Lammens, is fully exploiting a new rule implemented in the Premier League this season.

The new signing arriving from Royal Antwerp in a deal worth £18.1 million has made a strong impression since joining Old Trafford.

Lammens becomes a reliable pillar at the goal

After replacing Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir, the Belgian goalkeeper quickly brought stability to the goal. His predecessors frequently made mistakes leading to conceded goals, costing the traditionally rich English club. The 23-year-old player had to wait until October for his debut after signing, and in his first match, he helped Manchester United keep a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory over Sunderland.

Up to now, Lammens has played 23 matches in the Premier League, conceding only 25 goals and keeping 5 clean sheets, contributing to Manchester United's aim of reaching the top 5 to secure a UEFA Champions League spot.

What is the new Premier League rule?

This summer, the Premier League changed the rule for goalkeepers: The ball-holding time increased from 6 seconds to 8 seconds. If the ball is held for 8 seconds or more, the team will be penalized with a corner kick.

This is considered a dangerous penalty if the opponent can effectively utilize dead-ball situations. This rule is rarely applied, but it occurred right in the opening round of the season when Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka committed the offense in the match against Tottenham Hotspur under referee Michael Oliver's supervision.

How does Lammens utilize the new rule?

According to statistics from The Athletic, Lammens holds the ball for an average of 7.68 seconds each time, only 0.32 seconds short of the 8-second limit. This shows he is exploiting the new regulation to the maximum extent, possibly even exceeding the limit a few times without being penalized.

His average ball-holding time is over 1 second longer than the second-ranked goalkeeper. Specifically, Bart Verbruggen of Brighton & Hove Albion: 6.52 seconds and Jordan Pickford of Everton: 6.50 seconds. Meanwhile, although Arsenal is often seen as a "master of tricks," goalkeeper David Raya holds the ball for an average of only 3.96 seconds, among the fastest in the league.

What does Carrick say about Lammens?

Lammens' performance has received many praises. When asked if he resembles the legend Edwin van der Sar, manager Michael Carrick shared: "I see some similarities, but I don't want to directly compare because that wouldn't be fair to Senne."

Carrick emphasized that a goalkeeper needs to be reliable, bringing calmness and controlling chaos, and he believes Lammens is achieving that. According to this coach, Lammens' strong character and composure are helping stabilize Manchester United's entire defense.