Premier League goal involvements: Top player at each club – and what their percentage of goal involvements means

After last weekend’s Premier League games, it emerged that one player had been involved in 48 per cent of his team’s goals this season.

Sure, teams tend to rely on certain players — but it feels like they are rarely involved in nearly 50 per cent of a single team’s goals. Or are they?

The Athletic has crunched the numbers and spoken to our experts to take a look at each team in the Premier League and what percentage of goals their top goal-involved player has had a hand in. This means either providing the assist or scoring the goal.

Here, our reporters also break down what it says about the team in question.

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Arsenal – Bukayo Saka, 32%

It is no surprise to see Saka, with 10 goals and seven assists in the Premier League, top of Arsenal’s list. It is a testament to his talent and consistency.

The 22-year-old is accustomed to carrying Arsenal on his back in good and bad moments. He entered the team as a teenager who displayed remarkable maturity and has continued to decide matches.

This season, six of his 17 goal involvements have come in the last five matches, but he also stood up to be counted when Arsenal’s attack was not as fluid at the start of the season.

The majority of Arsenal attacks (40 per cent) come down his flank, which is also seen in Martin Odegaard being their next highest goal contributor (nine). This explains why he is directly responsible for 32 per cent of their league goals this season.

Saka has now hit 10 or more goals in the league for three consecutive seasons. He won’t be stopping there, however.

“I have my own targets,” he said after his brace at the London Stadium. “I know the media like to compare players a lot but I just try to stay in my lane and stay focused on what I wanted to achieve at the start of the season. I’m still going and I’ve got quite a few more to go.”

Art de Roche

Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins, 42%

Kevin De Bruyne, make way. I know you’ve had your injuries but there’s a new assist king in town and he goes by the name Ollie Watkins.

The England forward has registered 10 assists this season, a league-high and a symbol of Unai Emery’s selfless system built at Villa Park. Watkins has been involved in 42 per cent of all Villa’s goals, increasingly staying between the widths of the post and becoming the focal point for which the support network behind rotates and funnels attacks through him.

The 28-year-old has scored 11 goals this season and no longer takes penalties, evolving into Emery’s ideal centre-forward. He works with an individual coach before and after training, finessing his finishing and play around the box and is held up as an example for team-mates.

Do not fear, Gareth — if Harry Kane ever goes down with injury, Watkins will be of assistance (literally and figuratively).

Jacob Tanswell

Bournemouth – Dominic Solanke, 48%

If you’ve watched Bournemouth at their best this season, it’s been impossible not to notice Solanke. At last, the promise he showed with England’s youth international sides has translated to Premier League production.

Andoni Iraola’s system caters to Solanke’s striking sensibilities. Under Scott Parker and Gary O’Neil, Solanke often played with either a second striker or an attacking midfielder nearby. Under Iraola, however, Solanke has full ownership at the top of the team’s attack, granting him more pockets to run into and more types of off-ball runs he can execute. Rather than opting for a second striker, Iraola has instead pushed Ryan Christie into more of a deep-lying playmaker role — a change that has benefitted Solanke but kept Philip Billing in a rotational role despite his brilliance last season.

Still, that 48 per cent goal-involvement share begs questions of the players around him. Bournemouth have amassed a lot of Premier League-calibre wingers in the past three transfer windows: Dango Ouattara, Hamed Traore, Justin Kluivert, Marcus Tavernier, Luis Sinisterra, Antoine Semenyo and, most recently, returning loanee Romain Faivre. That doesn’t even consider Christie’s role change or previous mainstays Jaidon Anthony and David Brooks being out on loan. Iraola has rotated his side liberally in these spaces, limiting any of these players’ ability to come close to meeting Solanke’s goal and assist ledger.

Jeff Rueter

Brentford – Bryan Mbeumo, 29%

Let’s address the elephant in the room — under normal circumstances, this segment would be about Ivan Toney.

Toney’s lengthy ban for his breach of FA betting rules sparked fears that his big-game presence and knack for match-winning goals could not be replaced. Though Brentford have not been their usual clinical selves without their towering talisman, a solid system, and flashes of inspiration from Mbeumo have kept their heads above water.

Thomas Frank’s side continued to play sweeping, expansive football without Toney; less reliant on aerial duels and knock-downs, instead looking for switches of play out to adventurous wing-backs, or to find a more flexible front three with direct balls into feet. It is here where Mbeumo thrives, combining with the industrious Neal Maupay and the elusive Yoanne Wissa, or pulling out to the right-hand side before using the overlapping wing-back to cut inside and let fly with his lethal left foot.

In a season of disruption — injuries, suspensions, wastefulness in front of goal — the return of the original front three will bring the best out of Mbeumo once more.

Thom Harris

Brighton – Pascal Gross, 28%

Gross is a bit of an outlier for Brighton.

In recent transfer windows, Brighton have mainly tried to sign players in the 18-to-22 age bracket with big potential, or old hands such as former Liverpool duo Adam Lallana and James Milner to guide them.

Gross, at 32, falls into the latter category now, but the multi-tasking German was 25 when he became the club’s first signing for their return to the top flight in May 2017 from then-relegated Bundesliga club Ingolstadt for £3million.

The landscape was different for Brighton back then, with survival the priority, but what a signing he has proved to be. Gross has performed consistently throughout seven seasons under three managers (Chris Hughton, Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi) in multiple positions across the midfield, sometimes as an emergency full-back or wing-back as well.

He has maintained a reliable level of performance, making up for a lack of pace with endless stamina, intelligent positioning and a high level of technical skill. He has belatedly become a senior international for his country this season as well, with the European Championship to look forward to on home soil this summer.

His numbers this season are just a continuation of his relentless influence.

Andy Naylor

Burnley – Lyle Foster, 28%

When on the pitch, Foster has been one of Burnley’s bigger success stories this season. Signed in January 2023, an underwhelming opening six months in the Championship invited questions about his suitability for top-flight football.

It turns out there was no need to worry as the South Africa international’s skill set has been perfect for the Premier League. His pace, power, physicality, composure and technical link-up play have stood out, although not consistently.

What that 28 per cent figure also tells us is the lack of goalscoring threat Burnley’s squad carries around him. Foster’s respectable four goals and three assists have come in 14 appearances out of a possible 24, as he missed two months, taking time away from the game as he received treatment for his mental health.

Vincent Kompany’s side have only scored 25 goals in total, with Zeki Amdouni level with Foster. The bigger concern is the lack of service. Only centre-back Dara O’Shea is level with Foster on three assists. Meanwhile, the supposed creatives such as Amdouni, Wilson Odobert, and the now-injured Luca Koleosho have fewer.

Andy Jones

Chelsea – Cole Palmer, 39%

Chelsea’s owners have signed more than 30 players for the first team and the academy since taking over in May 2022, but they certainly saved the best till last.

There was some surprise when Chelsea agreed to pay Manchester City £40million (plus £2.5m in add-ons) for the attacker on deadline day last summer. One football agent has since told The Athletic that Manchester City were prepared to accept just £25million earlier in the window so the feeling in the game was that Chelsea had overpaid. No one is saying that now.

As the statistics show, Chelsea are very reliant on the 21-year-old. He has embraced getting regular game time. His confidence and willingness to try things is what impresses the most.

In a young team, nothing seems to faze him. That is one of the reasons he has become Chelsea’s first-choice penalty-taker.

Palmer has led the line, played as a No 10 and off the right flank. Even when he has a quiet game, he usually produces something to get the fans off their seats.

If the club’s player-of-the-season vote was conducted among the supporters now, he would win comfortably. That says it all.

Simon Johnson

Crystal Palace – Michael Olise, 33%

With six goals and three assists from only 11 appearances this season, there can be no doubt about how crucial Olise is to Palace.

Even with his hamstring injuries limiting his game time, Olise has been instrumental when fit. His ability to get past a player, to produce excellent crosses and moments of skill have become even more vital this season.

Without him, and Eberechi Eze, their attack is blunted. That much has become apparent several times in this campaign. But it highlights just how much they rely on him, and how significantly they struggle without him.

There was an obvious need to strengthen their attack in the January transfer window, but that did not transpire. Take away Olise’s contributions and Palace are much weaker and far less enjoyable to watch.

Matt Woosnam

Everton – Abdoulaye Doucoure, 27%

Everton fans are already well aware of the importance of Doucoure.

Sean Dyche’s side are yet to win a game without the midfielder this season, their points per game slumping from 1.5 to just 0.3 when he is not in the team.

Doucoure has been a regular contributor of goals for Dyche — despite missing much of the last two months, he is still the team’s top scorer — but also functions as Everton’s engine, linking midfield and attack. It is a key tactical role and one they have been unable to replicate while he has been on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

The good news is that he returned to full training this week, potentially providing a welcome boost for a side that is one point adrift of safety and winless since December 16.

But Everton also need others, including main striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, to start contributing if they are to survive.

Patrick Boyland

Fulham – Andreas Pereira/Bobby De Cordova-Reid/Willian, 18%

Last year saw Fulham score 55 league goals, their highest Premier League total, and key to that was Aleksandar Mitrovic. The Serbia striker missed a third of the season but was still involved in 27 per cent of their goals (14 goals and one assist).

That there has been a drop off this year, after Mitrovic’s departure is no surprise. Fulham’s leading trio of Pereira, De Cordova-Reid and Willian have contributed 18 per cent each, and Marco Silva will be pleased that the burden is being shared. But they remain low numbers; each has six goal involvements, and only Sheffield United’s leading influence, Oliver McBurnie has a comparable return.

The trio are all essential to Fulham’s attacking play, however. Willian is the architect in chief, drifting in off the left flank and combining effectively with full-back Antonee Robinson. Andreas Pereira has the team’s highest number of assists and much of that stems from his set-play deliveries. His form has not quite hit the heights of last year but he is just one assist shy of last year’s return.

De Cordova-Reid, meanwhile, has featured in multiple positions but retained that goalscoring knack. He is Fulham’s top scorer, just as he was in 2020-21 in the Premier League (from wing-back) and has one more than last year.

Fulham are still adapting to life after the loss of Mitrovic. While there will remain hope that these three can keep contributing and improve their numbers, they will also want to see a centre-forward help fill the void.

Peter Rutzler

Liverpool – Mohamed Salah, 40%

Liverpool’s over-reliance on Salah was put to the test while he was away with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations and subsequently out injured.

The fact Salah has missed six weeks’ worth of games and remains No 1 when it comes to goal involvements is not in the least surprising given how many record tables he likes to top.

In 238 league games for Liverpool, Salah has scored 151 goals and completed 66 assists. Even with Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo to look to — Liverpool still heavily rely on Salah, 31, to bring a spark of magic. The kind they glaringly missed in their 3-1 defeat to Arsenal recently. It is not just goals Liverpool miss when Salah isn’t there, it is the belief that something can happen out of nothing because when he is on the pitch it usually does.

Salah returned to training this week and all being well he should be in the squad when Liverpool travel to Brentford this weekend. There will be sighs of relief when the Egyptian winger returns, for he really is king.

Caoimhe O’Neill

Luton Town – Carlton Morris, 30%

Morris is yet to miss a league game for Luton this season. He has scored six goals, with four coming from the penalty spot. Morris is a hard worker and at the start of the season, he acted more as a target man. Luton would go long looking for him to hold the ball up as they got to grips with the speed of the Premier League. He is still that option but Luton have found their feet and are playing through the pitch.

Morris’ involvement in their attacking build-up can start from just inside the opposition half. He usually has Alfie Doughty and Chiedozie Ogbene waiting in the wings and Ross Barkley and Albert Sambi Lokonga storming up to support from midfield. This means he can get a pass off and make a run into the box. Elijah Adebayo, Luton’s top goalscorer in the league (nine goals), is playing in front of Morris a lot more, which gives him another option to look for.

It is fitting that Morris’ name is there given he is acting captain in the absence of best friend and team-mate Tom Lockyer. Morris has taken on the mantle of leadership, but in all honesty, he’s been giving everything since the season started.

Caoimhe O’Neill

Manchester City – Erling Haaland, 38%

Obviously.

Even though a foot injury recently saw Haaland miss five Premier League games and struggle to maintain last season’s phenomenal rate of scoring, he is still leading the Golden Boot race by a two-goal cushion.

And despite his spell on the sidelines, Haaland’s tally of 16 still makes up a sizeable chunk of Manchester City’s total of 56 — the most of any top-flight side. The days of City’s goals being distributed in a relatively even manner across the squad are a thing of the past.

But City’s adaptation to playing with Haaland has hardly made them one-dimensional, as his surprisingly decent number of assists demonstrates.

Among the City squad, only Phil Foden has more than Haaland’s five — which is as many as Bruno Fernandes and more than Trent Alexander-Arnold across the top flight.

But even without those five assists, Haaland would still have more goal involvements than each of his team-mates by how many he has scored. His level of output is remarkable, even in an apparently quieter campaign. But then you already knew that.

Mark Critchley

Manchester United – Bruno Fernandes/Scott McTominay, 24%

Fernandes’ importance to Manchester United has rarely been in doubt. Named United’s captain last summer by Erik ten Hag, he is United’s most technically gifted player and the conduit through which much of their best play flows.

Even without the glut of penalties that he enjoyed during his early years at Old Trafford, it is no surprise that Fernandes has been involved in around a quarter of the top-flight goals United have scored this term, scoring three and assisting five.

McTominay, on the other hand? Whereas Fernandes’ place in United’s best XI is undisputed, there has been a question mark over McTominay’s spot ever since his debut six years ago despite his undeniable work ethic and status as an academy graduate.

Ten Hag seems to have settled on using McTominay as an impact sub — but what an impact he makes. His seven league goals are not only the most among the United squad but have earned 12 points, more than any other Premier League player.

Mark Critchley

Newcastle United – Anthony Gordon, 24%

Eddie Howe has watched Anthony Gordon since his time at Bournemouth and sought to take the then-Everton youngster on loan in January 2021. He saw a player with the attributes to become one of the Premier League’s most dangerous wingers — but one who needed development if he was to add goals and assists to his game.

Now playing under him at Newcastle, Gordon has emphatically broken through. The 22-year-old targeted more goal involvements over the summer — and now boasts career highs for both goals and assists this season.

Gordon’s emergence has helped the balance of Newcastle’s attack — last season it was right-side-biased, utilising Kieran Trippier’s delivery — and has helped them score the fourth-most league goals (51), 11 more than the same stage last season.

Though Gordon is Newcastle’s most involved player, his relative share (24 per cent) is the fourth-lowest in the league, showing that Howe’s team is not reliant on one player.

Jacob Whitehead

Nottingham Forest – Anthony Elanga, 37%

There was an unexpected moment during a pre-season game against Leeds when Elanga exploded onto the scene at Nottingham Forest. Chasing the most lost of all lost causes, he showed a breathtaking turn of speed to keep the ball in play.

While he is a young man with rough edges, that brand of electric pace has already made him an invaluable asset at Nottingham Forest.

He is not the same player as Brennan Johnson but, following his £47.5million move to Tottenham, Elanga has replaced some of Johnson’s qualities.

Whether he operates down the left or the right, Elanga is capable of hurting opposition defences, as he perfectly demonstrated against Newcastle last weekend, when he scored one goal and might have had another.

The £15million Forest paid Manchester United for him in July already feels like a bargain, given his five goals and six assists.

Paul Taylor

Sheffield United – Oliver McBurnie, 27%

With six goal involvements in 13 appearances for a team who have been rooted in the bottom three for months, Oli McBurnie has had a decent return.

As with many elements of Sheffield United’s season, however, it is also a frustrating statistic as the club’s No 9 would surely have enjoyed even more influence had he not been sent off twice.

Those two red cards against Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur were needless, particularly the one in London when he was shown a second yellow card for dissent. Losing someone who can clearly make an impact at this level, as four goals and two assists underline, has proved costly.

Throw in the niggling injuries that have also disrupted McBurnie’s season and, like United’s attempts to compete at the top level without spending much money, it is a question of ‘What might have been?’

Richard Sutcliffe

Tottenham Hotspur – Son Heung-min, 35%

Spurs’ reliance on their elite forwards has been the case for some time, and though Harry Kane has left, Son Heung-min remains the team’s leader when it comes to goals and assists. His proportion of goal contributions is the eighth-highest of the players in this list, and that’s having missed three and made one substitute appearance in Tottenham’s last four Premier League games.

On one hand, this is an issue, but on the other, there is relief at Spurs that Son is back to his best after a difficult campaign last season. Ange Postecoglou will want his other forwards to chip in more, but Richarlison really stepped up in Son’s recent absence at the Asian Cup and has scored nine goals in his last nine Premier League appearances.

And compared to previous years when Kane and Son did pretty much all the heavy lifting, Spurs’ distribution of goal contributions is a bit more equitable nowadays. Last season, for instance, Kane’s goals and assists accounted for almost half (47 per cent) of Spurs’ total.

Charlie Eccleshare

West Ham United – Jarrod Bowen, 36%

Jarrod Bowen is on course to have his best goalscoring season for West Ham United. He has registered 14 goals and five assists across 30 appearances. His previous highest was 18 in 2021-22.

Bowen’s form earned him an England recall in October and it is no surprise he is West Ham’s main offensive outlet. Manager David Moyes has transitioned Bowen from a winger into a centre-forward. It is a concept with past success — it worked with aplomb when Moyes converted Marko Arnautovic and Michail Antonio into forwards.

Consistency has been a big factor behind Bowen’s form and he has improved the weaker aspects of his game, like his aerial ability. He is a leading contender for the Player of the Year award and will harbour hopes of being named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the Euros this season.

Roshane Thomas

Wolves – Matheus Cunha, 41%

What the above table suggests is, given that, at 41 per cent of his team’s goal involvements, Matheus Cunha is one of the most important individual players to a Premier League side, it would be cataclysmically awful if Wolves were to lose him to injury for a sustained period and… oh dear.

Hmm. Yep, when Cunha’s hamstring pinged against Brentford last weekend you could hear an audible sigh around Molineux and with good reason. The Brazilian has pretty much been in the form of his career in terms of end product, going from a goal-shy forward lacking in confidence to one who scored nine goals in a run of 14 matches.

What his absence means is that Pedro Neto (involved in 27 per cent of Wolves’ goals despite enduring a lengthy injury absence himself) and Hwang Hee-chan (35 per cent) need to step up, which you expect they will.

But Wolves need others like Pablo Sarabia or even youngster Nathan Fraser to produce more if their impressive season isn’t to peter out in the final three months.

Tim Spiers

(Top photos: Getty Images)