Nunez most wasteful alongside Man Utd and Chelsea xG underperformers

As we continue to look back on the 2023/24 Premier League season, we’ve compiled an ‘XI’ of the division’s biggest Expected Goals underperformances from the campaign. Included in the team are players from Aston Villa, Everton, Luton, Newcastle, Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. 

Matty Cash (Aston Villa) - 1.8xG underperformance 

Aston Villa full-back Matty Cash netted two league goals this season, from an xG total of 3.8. In all, the Poland international fired off a total off 33 shots on goal, finding the net with just 6% of those. 

James Tarkowski (Everton) - 2.4xG underperformance 

Everton defender James Tarkowski, one of three outfield players to play every minute in the Premier League in 2023/24, underperformed his xG by 2.4 goals. The English centre-back netted once, but given the chances he was presented throughout the campaign, should have at least three goals to his name. 

Reece Burke (Luton) - 2xG underperformance 

Joining Tarkowski in the backline is Luton defender Reece Burke, who failed to find the net all season despite the Expected Goals metric suggesting he should have scored twice. 

Dan Burn (Newcastle) - 1.8xG underperformance 

Newcastle’s Dan Burn rounds off the back four having scored two goals from an expected 3.8. The 32-year-old’s 23 shots on goal averaged 0.17xG, suggesting his attempts often come inside the box, rather than speculatively. 

Brennan Johnson (Tottenham) - 6.4xG underperformance 

Tottenham attacker Brennan Johnson ended his debut season in north London with 15 goal involvements to his name (five goals, 10 assists), but could have had more than 20. The Wales international underperformed his xG by more than six goals, while he also missed 17 big chances. 

Casemiro (Manchester United) - 2.6xG underperformance 

Manchester United’s Casemiro takes up a spot in midfield having scored just once this term after finding the net four times in 2022/23. Given the chances he was presented this season, Casemiro was expected to have scored at least three goals, rather than just the one. 

Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea) - 3.3xG underperformance 

£100m-man Enzo Fernandez opened his Premier League account for Chelsea in 2023/24, scoring three times from 47 attempts on goal, but given those chances; the Argentine was expected to have more than six goals to his name come the end of the season. 

Luis Diaz (Liverpool) - 5xG underperformance 

The first of two Liverpool inclusions in our XI is Luis Diaz, who enjoyed his best scoring season to date at Anfield, netting eight league goals. The Colombian winger, though, was expected to break into double figures over the campaign, with his expected goals totalling 13. 

Darwin Nunez (Liverpool) - 7xG underperformance 

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez ended the 2023/24 season as the Premier League’s biggest xG underperformer, having scored seven goals fewer than expected. The Uruguay international also missed a whopping 27 big chances; only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland wasted more (34). 

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) - 6.7xG underperformance 

Second only to Nunez in the Premier League was Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who underperformed his expected total by nearly seven goals. The 27-year-old found the net seven times, but could have doubled his tally given the chances he was presented throughout the campaign.