- United have had an indifferent start to the season, winning two of five matches
- They were the worst-performing team in top half last season for goals scored
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Manchester United have missed the most big chances of any team in the Premier League this season, new data has revealed.
The Red Devils have had a mixed start to the campaign and are currently 11th in the league table, with two wins, one draw and two defeats to their names so far.
Erik ten Hag had bid to turn around his side’s goal scoring struggles from last year, with United scoring 57 league goals – the fewest in the top half of the table – in the league last term.
Those struggles are yet to turn around, however, with United drawing 0-0 with Crystal Palace on Saturday despite having 15 shots and nearly 67 per cent of possession.
Now, data has shown that Ten Hag’s side are by far and away the club who have missed the most big chances in the Premier League this season, with 17 squandered in just five games.
Manchester United have missed the mot big chances in the Premier Legaue this season by a staggering five opportunities
A number of stars are responsible for the tally, including Alejandro Garnacho (left) and Bruno Fernandes (right)
Joshua Zirkzee – the only attacking player that United signed in the transfer window – has missed four big chances this season
A bit chance is defined by Opta as ‘a situation where a player should reasonably be expected to score, usually in a one on one scenario or from very close range when the ball has a clear path to goal and there is low to moderate pressure on the shooter. Penalties are always considered big chances.’
United have missed over three a game so far this term, with three teams on 12 – the closest competitors.
Those sides are Aston Villa, Liverpool and Tottenham, with Ollie Watkins of Villa being responsible for seven of those 12 – the most of any player in the Premier League.
In fifth is Southampton, who have squanderd 11 chances and scored only two league goals this term.
In terms of players, there are three Red Devils players in the top eight stars who have missed the most big chances in the league.
The joint-biggest culprit is Alejandro Garnacho, who has seen four big chances come and go despite starting only twice in the league so far this season.
Elsewhere, Joshua Zirkzee has also wasted four, while Bruno Fernandes has squandered three.
Cameron Archer is second in the overall player table with two, with Eberechi Eze, Chris Wood and Dominic Solanke wasting four alongside Zirkzee.
Ollie Watkins leads the way for players who have missed big chances this season with seven
| Team | Player |
|---|---|
| Manchester United – 17 | 2 |
| Aston Villa – 12 | Ollie Watkins – 7 |
| Liverpool – 12 | Cameron Archer – 5 |
| Tottenham – 12 | Eberechi Eze – 4 |
| Southampton – 11 | Alejandro Garnacho – 4 |
| Arsenal – 10 | Dominic Solanke – 4 |
| Brentford – 9 | Chris Wood – 4 |
| Manchester City – 9 | Joshua Zirkzee – 4 |
Following United’s game with Palace, they had missed the most big chances in Europe’s top five leagues this season. Their expected goals number is 9.4, almost double the five they have actually scored.
Big chances missed so far this term include Garnacho’s one-on-one against Palace, Matthijs De Ligt’s header in the same game and Zirkzee’s miss from a matter of yards against Southampton.
