Nicolas Jackson third and Darwin Núñez second as statistics reveal the ten most wasteful players in the Premier League
Nicolas Jackson, Darwin Núñez and even Erling Haaland have been talked about among the worst players in the Premier League this season.
Chelsea and Liverpool Strikers Jackson and Núñez have been particularly criticized in recent weeks for missing important opportunities.
And it has even cost them great moments in crucial games. Just thinking about where Chelsea could be in the table? Or if Liverpool would be top of the league right now?
Haaland may have scored 20 goals in the Premier League this season, but his performances have been below what we saw from him last season. He has blown a staggering 30 big chances this season.
So talkSPORT.com decided to take a look at the worst players in front of goal this season.
This is obtained by using their xG (expected goals) compared to the amount they have actually scored.
10. Keane Lewis-Potter (Brentford)
Goals – 3
xG – 5.66
Poor performance: -2.66
Lewis-Potter scored his first Premier League goal in December, but statistics show he could have scored more.
Thomas Frank has used him all over the field this season and often on the bench. There is certainly more to come from the 23-year-old.
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9. Luis Díaz (Liverpool)
Goals – 8
xG – 10.98
Poor performance: -2.98
Diaz can be brilliant at times and has put in some solid performances for Liverpool this season.
However, the Colombian has his critics. One of the main problems people have is that he holds the ball for too long and wastes the ball in front of the goal. That's why it's not surprising to see it on this list.
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8. Brennan Johnson (Tottenham)
Goals – 5
xG – 8.16
Low performance: -3.16
Johnson has had a mixed start to his life at Tottenham following his £47million transfer from Nottingham Forest.
He has started to justify that huge transfer fee, but it is imperative to be more clinical in front of goal.
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7. Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
Goals – 3
xG – 6.18
Low performance: -3.18
Chelsea's midfield duo of Fernandez and Moisés Caicedo have come under fire this season. Both cost over £100m and don't look like good value for money at the moment.
Two of these goals he has scored in the Premier League this season came in the same match, including one from a penalty.
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6. Julián Álvarez (Man City)
Goals – 8
xG – 11.43
Poor performance: -3.43
How do you follow a season with triple victories? That's what Manchester City are learning this season.
Álvarez is having a personal season similar to the previous one, but he has been wasting in front of goal.
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5. Erling Haaland (Man City)
Goals – 20
xG – 23.69
Poor performance: -3.69
Haaland was always going to struggle after a record-breaking season in 2022/23. Although he has 20 league goals, he should be far away in the race for the Golden Boot.
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4. Beto (Everton)
Goals – 3
xG – 6.79
Poor performance: -3.79
It has been a tough season for the forward and, to a large extent, the symbol of Everton's problems in front of goal.
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3. Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea)
Goals – 10
xG – 14.39
Poor performance: -4.39
There are a lot of things I like about Jackson's game, but his finishing isn't one of them. Three of these goals came in a match against a 10-man Tottenham team.
Many questions remain about whether Jackson is a top-notch forward.
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2. Darwin Núñez (Liverpool)
Goals – 11
xG – 15.81
Poor performance: -4.81
Nunez can be brilliant one moment and surprisingly frustrating the next. If he was more consistent in front of goal he could be a world champion.
Liverpool will have to make a decision on whether to keep him or move on.
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1. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton)
Goals – 6
xG – 11.29
Poor performance: -5.29
The 27-year-old is just starting to find his form, with three goals in his last four games.
Without them, I would be even further ahead of the field.
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