We bring you the top/bottom 10 players who are massively underperforming in front of goal this season, and Mo Salah is on that list. We have a new leader.
Oh and we don’t hold no truck with penalties so we have taken those numbers out.
For the less fun list of players wildly outstripping their xG numbers, go here.
10) Diego Costa (Wolves)
Expected goals: 2.2
Actual goals: 0
He took eight shots against Leicester City in a 4-0 defeat; that’s just ludicrous. And he still has more red cards than goals since his return to Premier League football.
9) Mo Salah (Liverpool)
Expected goals: 10.2
Actual goals: 8
Scored against Everton thanks in no small part to Jordan Pickford, but with a total xG figure against the Toffees of 0.8 it only slightly improves his overall position. And then he didn’t score v Newcastle.
8) Ryan Yates (Nottingham Forest)
Expected goals: 2.2
Actual goals: 0
Has taken 25 shots this season. Just stop, Ryan. Pass the ball.
7) Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United)
Expected goals: 5.4
Actual goals: 3
In three of four Premier League seasons, Bowen has scored fewer goals than his xG suggests he should. Two goals v Everton certainly helped but they came with an xG of 1.5 so he does not drop off this list entirely.
6) Mohamed Elyounoussi (Southampton)
Expected goals: 2.6
Actual goals: 0
This monumental miss v Newcastle was given an xG value of 0.66.
What a miss from Elyounoussi 😬 #SOUNEW pic.twitter.com/usoHqwA3qm
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) November 6, 2022
5) Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)
Expected goals: 7.7
Actual goals: 5
All-round game, works hard etc etc. But the truth is that Jesus has been owned by his xG in three of his five full seasons in the Premier League and is very much heading towards four in six (though injury will stem the flow for now). Five goals from 50 shots is sub-optimal. As is missing 11 Opta-defined Big Chances.
4) Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)
Expected goals: 9.1
Actual goals: 6
The Premier League’s new master of chaos has already established himself as one of the most fun players in the country, and inevitably for a chaotic fun-bringer consistent finishing is not on the agenda.
3) Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal)
Expected goals: 7.2
Actual goals: 4
Found wanting against Tottenham and then Manchester City and Aston Villa, when he wasted several pretty serviceable chances. He is a decent back-up but absolutely a back-up.
2) Patrick Bamford (Leeds)
Expected goals: 4.4
Actual goals: 1
Last scored in a Premier League win for Leeds in May 2021. Oh mate.
1) Danny Welbeck (Brighton)
Expected goals: 4.9
Actual goals: 1
He only went and scored a bloody goal. Well done, Danny. So then he started against Leicester and, well, how did he not score another? And then against Bournemouth…come on, Danny. It’s starting to feel like he might never register double figures for goals in a Premier League season.
