English Premier League Player Stats 25/26

A Statistical Review of Premier League Player Performance

An analysis of Premier League player statistics provides a detailed picture of individual performances across the league. By looking beyond simple goal and assist counts, we can identify standout players in various phases of play, from attacking efficiency to defensive solidity. This report breaks down the key metrics.

Attacking Performance: Goals, Creation, and Efficiency

Goal Scoring and Shot Volume

Erling Haaland leads the league's goal-scoring charts with 22 goals. This output is supported by a high volume of involvement in Manchester City's attack, as evidenced by his league-leading 81 total shots and 48 shots on target.

An analysis of finishing efficiency, however, points to other players. Antoine Semenyo has been highly efficient, scoring 15 goals from an Expected Goals (xG) total of just 9.7. This +5.3 differential indicates a strong ability to convert difficult chances. Similarly, Brentford's Igor Thiago has scored 18 goals, outperforming his xG of 15.6 by +2.4, marking him as another efficient finisher.

Shot Volume and Missed Opportunities

The "Big Chances Missed" metric provides context to a striker's role. Erling Haaland leads this category with 24. This figure reflects the high volume of opportunities his positioning and his team's creative output generate. Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta (17) and Brentford's Igor Thiago (15) also rank highly, which is common for forwards who are consistently in goal-scoring positions.

Creative Play and Ball Progression

Chance Creation

Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United has been the league's most productive creator. He leads in two key categories: total assists (14) and big chances created (22). Furthermore, his Expected Assists (xA) differential of +5.5 suggests he is consistently delivering passes that are more likely to lead to goals than average chances.

A notable development is seen in Declan Rice at Arsenal. Traditionally known for his defensive work, he has created 14 big chances, showing a significant expansion of his role. Rayan Cherki at Manchester City has also been an effective creator, generating 15 big chances and providing 8 assists.

Ball Progression Through Dribbling

In terms of individual ball progression, Manchester City’s Jérémy Doku is a standout, averaging a league-high 3.0 successful dribbles per game. He is followed by Mohammed Kudus of Tottenham (2.7) and Iliman Ndiaye of Everton (2.3). These players provide an alternative method for breaking down defensive structures through their one-on-one abilities.

Defensive Actions: Tackling, Interceptions, and Discipline

Ball-Winning and Team Structure

In midfield, Tottenham’s João Palhinha has been a key defensive presence, leading the league with 56 successful tackles. At Wolves, João Gomes also demonstrates a high level of defensive activity, ranking second in successful tackles with 54.

For reading the game, Chelsea's Moisés Caicedo leads all players with 51 interceptions, showing a strong ability to anticipate and disrupt opposition play.

The impact of defensive structure is also visible in clean sheet contributions. Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães (12) and Jurrien Timber (11) have the most clean sheets among defenders, tied with Rúben Dias of Manchester City (11). In midfield, Everton's James Garner and Arsenal's Martin Zubimendi have each contributed to 10 clean sheets, highlighting their importance to their teams' defensive shape.

Clearances, Blocks, and Errors

In terms of clearances, Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk leads with 220, indicating his active role in relieving pressure. For blocks, Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock is first with 1.7 per game, followed closely by James Tarkowski (39 total) and Marcos Senesi (36 total), who also ranks highly for clearances (204).

Defensive activity also comes with risk. The aggressive style of João Gomes is reflected in his 55 fouls committed, second-most in the league. This has contributed to 9 yellow cards, one of the highest totals. The most significant disciplinary issues belong to Tottenham's Cristian Romero, who has received two red cards. Costly errors also include own goals, a category led by Maxime Esteve and Yerson Mosquera with two each, and penalties conceded, where Bruno Fernandes and Danny Welbeck have each been responsible for two.

Goalkeeping Performance Analysis

Goalkeeping data highlights different roles and pressures. Arsenal's David Raya leads the league with 14 clean sheets, a reflection of both his performance and his team's strong defensive record.

In terms of shot-stopping, Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City (73.6%) and Emiliano Martínez of Aston Villa (73.5%) have the highest save percentages among goalkeepers who have played significant minutes.

The data also shows which keepers have been under the most pressure. Burnley's Martin Dúbravka has made the most saves with 106. He has conceded 58 goals, which is 1.6 more than his Expected Goals Conceded (xGC) figure, suggesting he has faced a high quantity of difficult shots. In contrast, goalkeepers like Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham) and Đorđe Petrović (Bournemouth) have conceded 46 goals each, but their xGC figures are closer to their actuals, indicating the number of goals conceded is more aligned with the quality of chances they have faced.