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In a season that saw Liverpool lift the Premier League title under new manager Arne Slot, an intriguing statistical anomaly has emerged: Mohamed Salah, one of the league's most prolific forwards, has also been identified as one of its most wasteful. A recent analysis of "big chances missed" reveals that Salah topped the Premier League in this unenviable category, surpassing even Chelsea's much-criticized striker, Nicolas Jackson. This data provides a fascinating, if somewhat frustrating, counterpoint to Salah's remarkable goal-scoring and assist numbers.
Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian King, concluded the 2024/25 Premier League season with an impressive 29 goals and 18 assists, clinching his fourth Golden Boot and playing a pivotal role in Liverpool's title triumph. Despite these stellar offensive contributions, the statistics show he missed a staggering 24 big chances throughout the campaign. A "big chance" is generally defined as a situation where a player is expected to score, often in a one-on-one scenario with the goalkeeper or from very close range. For a player renowned for his clinical finishing, this high number of squandered opportunities suggests that while Salah consistently gets into prime scoring positions, his execution in those moments was not always perfect. His blistering pace and incisive runs undeniably created numerous clear-cut opportunities, but the data indicates that he could have shattered even more records had he been more ruthless in front of goal.
Following Salah on this list, but still ahead of a number of other prominent strikers, is Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson. Jackson, who has faced considerable scrutiny for his finishing throughout the season, recorded 19 big chances missed. While Jackson did manage to score 10 goals for Chelsea, his 19 missed big chances highlight a season of undeniable frustration for the Senegalese international. His pace and movement consistently troubled defenders and allowed him to get into good positions, but too many wayward finishes and a lack of composure in crucial moments left Chelsea fans exasperated. His contribution of goals could have been significantly higher, potentially altering the outcome of several tight matches for the Blues.
It's a testament to the attacking prowess of both Salah and Jackson that they are generating so many "big chances" in the first place. The ability to consistently breach defenses and get into high-percentage scoring areas is a valuable asset. However, the data underscores the importance of clinical finishing, even for elite players.
The Premier League's top 10 most wasteful players for the 2024/25 season, based on big chances missed, paints a revealing picture of attacking efficiency across the league:
* Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) – 27 Big Chances Missed. Despite leading Aston Villa's charge with 16 goals, Watkins takes the top spot overall for wastefulness, indicating a significant number of high-quality chances that went unconverted.
* Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – 24 Big Chances Missed. His individual brilliance was undeniable, but the volume of missed opportunities suggests areas for fine-tuning.
* Erling Haaland (Manchester City) – 21 Big Chances Missed. Even Manchester City's goal-machine, who still managed to net 22 goals, left a few too many on the table, indicating that even the most prolific strikers can have moments of profligacy.
* Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace) – 19 Big Chances Missed. Mateta enjoyed a fantastic season for Palace with 14 goals, but his 19 missed big chances reveal a frustrating inconsistency in his finishing.
* Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea) – 19 Big Chances Missed. Jackson's mixed season saw him contribute offensively but also miss a significant number of clear-cut chances.
* Alexander Isak (Newcastle United) – 18 Big Chances Missed. Isak's impressive goal tally of 21 still came with a notable number of missed opportunities.
* Yoane Wissa (Brentford) – 17 Big Chances Missed. Wissa had a memorable season for Brentford, but his finishing could have been sharper.
* Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace) – 17 Big Chances Missed. Another Crystal Palace player on the list, highlighting areas for improvement in front of goal.
* Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) – 16 Big Chances Missed. The Everton striker, who scored 3 goals, battled with inconsistency in front of goal.
* Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest) – 15 Big Chances Missed. Wood's presence rounds out the top ten, further emphasizing the challenge of converting prime scoring opportunities.
This analysis provides valuable context to individual player performances. While goals and assists are the ultimate metrics of offensive success, the "big chances missed" statistic highlights a crucial aspect of a forward's game: their clinicality. For Salah, it suggests that his output could have been even more extraordinary. For Jackson, it underscores the need for greater composure and precision as he continues to adapt to the rigors of the Premier League. The data serves as a reminder that even the very best in the business are not immune to squandering golden opportunities, and that refining finishing remains a constant pursuit for professional footballers.
Source@Pulse Sports