There have also been changes to how bonus points are awarded.
Bonus points are given to the best three players in each match based on the Bonus Points System (BPS) that comprises of statistics from Opta.
Previously, goalkeepers would get two BPS points for each save made. For saves of shots from inside the box, that has now increased to three, with shots from outside remaining at two.
A saved penalty would have previously given a goalkeeper nine BPS points. That has been reduced to eight for the save, but is balanced out by an increase to shots from inside of the penalty area being saved.
All scored penalties are now worth 12 BPS points, regardless of a player’s position. That was previously 18 and 24 points for midfielders and forwards respectively.
Making a goalline clearance has tripled in value from three BPS points to nine.
The final change to BPS points is tackles. All successful tackles are worth two BPS points. Previously, two points were awarded the number of net tackles completed (tackles won minus tackles lost).
There have also been changed into what is now being classed as an assist in order to allow for more.
For assists that took a deflection off a defender, assists will now be awarded regardless of whether the assist reached its intended target, providing it only took one touch off a defender and was received by the goalscorer inside the penalty area.
Unforced defensive errors will also now lead to an assist being given by the player whose pass led to it, as long as the defensive error in question is not a missplaced pass.
Again, the maximum one touch from a defender rule remains in play.
Players will now also earn an assist if they earn a penalty or free-kick that is scored via a handball, regardless of whether it was forced or unforced.
