Our weekly standout stats article is a pocket-sized statistical bible of everything eyebrow-raising that happened in the previous gameweek. For starters, we’ll shine the spotlight over everyone who over and underperformed their underlying stats. Our eagle-eyed analyst also keeps an eye on player heatmaps, searching for any assets who might be drifting out of their FPL position.

As with most of the content posted on our blog, the aim is to find FPL’s hidden gems. If you read nothing else ahead of next gameweek, read this.

(by the way, the xG Delta stat is the difference between actual goals and expected goals (xG). A high minus figure indicates underachievement and a high plus figure indicates overachievement. Cool.)

GAMEWEEK 16 OVERACHIEVERS AND UNDERACHIEVERS

xG OVERACHIEVERS

Harry Kane (+1.78)

Nicolas Pepe (+0.95)

George Baldock (+0.92)

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (+0.90)

xG UNDERACHIEVERS

Harvey Barnes (-1.06)

Ismaila Sarr (-0.87)

Anwar El-Ghazi (-0.78)

TEAM UNDER/OVERACHIEVERS

Watford, Man City and Southampton all underachieved according to the xG figures in GW16. Bottom of the table Watford managed to find a point to add to their total after a home 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace. However, the xG scoreline read 1.57-0.21, suggesting The Hornets deserved to take all 3 points.

Manchester United were surprise winners at the Etihad, but the xG gods look at this score in disgust after City trumped United’s xG figure 2.07 to 1.63. Finally, Southampton left St. James’ Park on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline despite recording an xG of 1.89, superior to the 1.10 clocked by Newcastle.

The standout overachievers of the week were Brighton. The Seagulls managed to take a point off an in-form Wolves side, however, their 0.95 xG does not match their 2 goals. For comparison, Wolves also scored 2 goals but from a 1.87 xG.

GAMEWEEK 16 KEY STATS AND POSITIONS

TOTAL GOAL ATTEMPTS

Defenders – Evans (4)

Midfielders – Salah, El Ghazi (5)

Forwards – Kane, Jota, Calvert-Lewin (6)

CHANCES CREATED

Defenders – Targett, Sidibe (3)

Midfielders – De Bruyne, Maddison, Buendia (5)

Forwards – Jimenez, Iheanacho (4)

AVERAGE POSITIONS

Salah the most advanced Liverpool player.

Kane, Alli and Son all equally advanced.

Zaha the most advanced Crystal Palace player by some distance.

Sterling the most advanced City player, with De Bruyne marginally behind him in a much more central position.

Maddison as advanced as Iheanacho.

El Ghazi the most advanced Aston Villa player.

Jimenez, Jota and Traore all equally advanced.

OTHER STANDOUT STATS

Team Shots – Leicester, Man City (23)

Highest Player xG – Jamie Vardy (1.63)

Highest Team xG – Leicester (4.03)

Jota had the best ‘mins per goal attempt in box’ ratio amongst all starting forwards (12.8 mins).

Angelino top amongst defenders for touches in the final third (52). Elmohamady had the most touches in the opposition’s penalty area (7).

De Bruyne delivered the most crosses out of all players (18).