THE SHOCKING statistics behind Premier League time-wasting have been revealed.
And serial-offenders Newcastle are NOT the worst offenders in England's top flight.
Stats from Opta Analyst show just how little football is actually played across the 90 minutes – with Premier League matches seeing an average of 54 minutes 46 seconds of action.
That works out as 55.8 per cent of actual game time – with 44.2 per cent wasted – and the World Cup trial to add more injury-time will come into effect next season as referees clamp down on time-wasting.
Newcastle have regularly been criticised for their sly game management this season – and they do have lowest amount of time with the ball in play across the 20 teams at 52 per cent (51m 15s).
That is a far cry from Manchester City, the top team, who keep the game going for 61.8 per cent (60m 12s), clear of Liverpool and Leicester in second on 58 per cent.
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But the team that takes the longest to restart matches when the ball goes out of play is Brentford.
Thomas Frank's side average 31.4 seconds – with Newcastle second on 29.9 seconds.
At the other end of the scale, Liverpool get the ball back in within 23.3 seconds.
However, Nick Pope is arguably the player who is the slowest restarter in the division.
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Newcastle average a 36.8-second delay per goal kick, more than three seconds worse than Jordan Pickford at Everton while Liverpool manage to take their goal kicks within 21.5 seconds with Alisson between the sticks.
Incredibly, Bees man David Raya wasted 13 minutes and 29 seconds taking goal kicks in the 2-0 win over West Ham in December.
Southampton (18.9s), Brentford (18.7s) and Aston Villa (18.5s) are the slowest at taking throw-ins with Leicester City getting on with it quickest at 13.7 seconds.
Free-kicks and corners take an average of 33 seconds to be completed in the Premier League, with goal kicks on 30 seconds and throw-ins on 16 seconds.
Penalties are just shy of two minutes at 112 seconds while the kick-off after a goal usually takes 72 seconds.
Newcastle got a taste of their own medicine when Crystal Palace's Vicente Guaita managed to average 63 seconds per goal kick earlier in the season.
And the Toon boss Eddie Howe was particularly annoyed by Arsenal's antics in the 2-0 win at St James' Park on Sunday.
Howe said: "They managed the game well from their perspective.
"They slowed it down, lots of breaks in play, which was frustrating for us.
"Naturally, we wanted the ball in play more. Especially when you’re chasing the game."
But talkSPORT host and Gunners fan Laura Woods hit back at the Magpies chief with a dose of reality.
She responded: "Howe was referencing the lack of time the ball was in play – which is a big problem across the league.
"But particularly with Newcastle, this stat has cropped up across social media over the weekend.
"Lots of people are saying, 'Hang on a minute, this is a bit hypocritical.' Especially regarding the 0-0 draw at the Emirates earlier this season.
"I went to that game and there was a lot of controversy about time-wasting. So I think Arsenal maybe played them at their own game."
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