Top disappointing players in the Premier League: Manchester United has two names

According to statistics from WhoScored, Anthony Gordon (Newcastle) is at the top of the "xG underperformers" list for the Premier League 2025/26 season. His frequent missed opportunities have resulted in a goal count much lower than anticipated, sparking worries about Newcastle's offensive performance.

The list of the top 10 xG underperformers — players who have scored fewer goals than their expected goals (xG) metric suggests — for the Premier League 2025/26 season has just been released. These players often miss chances, leading to actual goal totals significantly below the predicted data.

Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United) stands out with a negative difference of –1.68, meaning he has scored nearly 2 goals fewer than expected from his created chances. Danny Welbeck (Brighton) ranks second with –1.35, while Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) also appears on the list, having scored almost one goal less than his xG.

For Gordon, his current form is definitely a warning sign for Newcastle. Given that the "Magpies" rely heavily on him as a main attacking threat, missing so many chances could cost the team valuable points. Without improving his finishing skills soon, the English player could become the focus of criticism, directly affecting Newcastle’s ambitions this season.

Bruno Fernandes is facing a similar situation at Manchester United. As the midfield playmaker, the Portuguese midfielder often gets shooting opportunities from the second line, but his current conversion rate does not meet expectations. With the "Red Devils" attack lacking consistency, Bruno’s inefficiency adds pressure on coach Ruben Amorim. If he does not improve his chance-taking, his influence on United’s play might be questioned.

However, xG is not an absolute measure. Experts point out that this metric still has limitations, such as high variability in individual shots, small sample sizes, or calculation models that do not perfectly adjust for each player’s ability.

Therefore, directly comparing xG and actual goals does not fully reflect a player’s finishing skills. Nevertheless, publishing the xG underperformers list provides practical value, helping coaching staff and club management identify players struggling to score. This enables tactical adjustments, finishing drills, or motivation efforts to help players improve their form quickly.