Erling Haaland: The Lethal Goal-Scorer Dominating the Premier League

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has gained a reputation as one of the most lethal goal-scorers in recent years. Last season, he scored an impressive 51 goals in 52 games and set a new record for the most goals scored in a single Premier League campaign with 36 goals.

This season, Haaland is once again leading the scoring charts with 18 goals, putting him on course to win the Golden Boot. However, it is evident that he has not been performing at the same level as last season. While he has still been excellent, he has missed several clear-cut chances that he would have converted in the past.

In fact, Haaland ranks among the top three players in the Premier League for scoring below open-play expected goals (xG) in the 2023-24 season. xG is a metric that measures the quality of a chance by calculating the likelihood of it being scored based on similar shots in the past.

Haaland's open-play xG deficit of -2.6 is the third highest in the league this season, indicating that he should have scored at least two more goals from open play. Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson ranks second with a deficit of -4.3, while Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewis leads the pack with a deficit of -6.2.

It is worth noting that Haaland has consistently outperformed his open-play xG in his previous four full league seasons with Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City, with a surplus of 17.7. This season, however, is an outlier.

Despite his struggles with open-play expected goals, Haaland's goal-scoring prowess remains unmatched, as he continues to top the scoring charts. This serves as a warning to City's opponents that even when not at his best, Haaland is still a formidable force.

Topics: Manchester City, Erling Haaland, Premier League