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The 24th Premier League season has thrown up a number of surprises this season, most notably the rise of Leicester City. Claudio Ranieri took over last summer and the club has not looked back. After barely escaping relegation last season, they now sit atop the EPL table after 28 rounds.But their lead at the top has been threatened time and again by the two north London clubs – Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal – and Manchester City. In a league where goal difference plays a huge factor, it might simply come down to that with only seven points separating the top four clubs – provided Manchester City win their game in hand. With that in mind, which clubs have had the best conversion rate this season? Stats courtesy of TransferMarkt
#5 West Bromwich Albion - 15.7%
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It’s hard to believe that West Bromwich Albion are in fifth place on the list ahead of the likes of most of the top 10 sides. The Baggies have scored only 29 goals in 28 matches – a ratio of just over 1 goal a game. They are currently placed 13th in the table.
The 29 goals they have scored is also one of the worst in the league. Only strugglers Swansea City (27), Newcastle United (27) and Aston Villa (22) have scored lesser goals. This makes it even more remarkable that they manage to convert chances that fall to them.
The club’s top goalscorer this season is Jose Salomon Rondon who has scored six goals – a paltry amount compared to the Premier League’s top scorers who are nearing 20 goals this season. Saido Berahino, who has come on as s substitute more times than he has started, has scored only four goals.
Tony Pulis is not one to come up with organized attacking tactics and relies more on physicality and long balls rather than playing the ball on the ground. Crosses and aerial duels are West Brom’s bread and butter with the odd set-piece goal from direct free-kicks (remember Craig Gardner’s equaliser against Leicester City?).
| Total Shots | Shots on Target | Goals | Conversion Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 185 | 85 | 29 | 15.7% |
#4 Manchester City - 16.1%
Manchester City have had a roller-coaster of a season in 2015/16. In spite of starting the season at the top of the table in the opening months, they have slipped down the table since the 2-1 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side have since slipped to fourth place after losing the last three games in the league to title rivals Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and the resurgent Liverpool. The 48 goals they have scored is also the fourth highest tally in the league but they do have a game in hand.
Sergio Aguero has once again led the goal scoring charts for the Sky Blues this season but he has struggled to find form at various stages this season. Although he has scored 14 goals this season, five of those came in one game against relegation-threatened Newcastle United.
Nobody else has scored enough to support him with Yaya Toure, Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne the next highest with 5 goals. City have also struggled against the top sides, failing to win even one game against other opponents in the top six.
| Total Shots | Shots on Target | Goals | Conversion Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 299 | 157 | 48 | 16.1% |
#3 Manchester United - 16.3%
After finishing in the top four last season in Louis van Gaal’s first season in charge, fans expected Manchester United to make good progress this season and mount a credible title challenge. They did top the table by the end of September but a 3-0 loss to Arsenal saw them slide down the table.
The Red Devils currently occupy fifth place, narrowly edging out West Ham who have done well under Slaven Bilic. What is interesting to note is that United have scored the least goals among the top six but have the third best conversion rate in the league.
That just begs the question; why don’t the Old Trafford club shoot more often? Their highest EPL goalscorers this season are Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney with seven each.
It is a question that plagued the side when their downward spiral saw them get knocked out of the Champions League and forced Louis van Gaal to trash his plans of only keeping possession and playing a more dynamic style the United faithful are used to.
It has yielded results and youngsters such as Marcus Rashford (4 goals from 5 shots on target) have reinforced the belief that they can yet salvage this season and qualify for the Champions League if they reel in their derby rivals.
| Total Shots | Shots on Target | Goals | Conversion Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 227 | 121 | 37 | 16.3% |
#2 Everton - 19.1%
Everton have been an enigma in the Premier League this season. While they have thrilled spectators with some glorious performances in attack, it is their defence that has let them down time and again this season.
The Toffees have scored 49 goals so far this season – the second-highest tally in the league. But at the same time, they have conceded 36 – nowhere near the form required to target European spots, let alone a top-four spot. Roberto Martinez’s problems have followed him from his days at Wigan Athletic who were also easy on the eye but leaked goals aplenty.
Their conversion rate of 19.1% is exceptional with Romelu Lukaku leading the way with 17 goals followed by Ross Barkley with 8 goals. They are ably supported by Arouna Kone, Aaron Lennon and Gerard Deulofeu in attack.
But unless they get their act together at the back, they don’t stand a chance of even qualifying for the Europa League. The Merseyside club are currently in 11th place, although they have a game in hand, but they look like they will just manage a top half finish with four of the top six clubs yet to play them a second time this season.
| Total Shots | Shots on Target | Goals | Conversion Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 256 | 140 | 49 | 19.1% |
#1 Leicester City - 19.5%
There’s no fairy tale quite like Leicester City’s rise to the summit of the Premier League this season. Claudio Ranieri’s side has defied all odds and broken the internet in the process with their performances this season.
Not only have they topped the Premier League, they have done it by beating all the big clubs, except for Arsenal who managed to do a double over them with literally the last kick of the game after the Foxes went down to 10 men.
At the heart of it all has been Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez who has been involved in 25 goals (14 goals and 11 assists) while the league’s top goalscorer Jamie Vardy (19 goals) has broken records along the way. 51 goals is the most by any team so far and no other team is yet to cross the 50-goal mark.
With a conversion rate of almost 1 goal in every 5 shots and close to 2 goals for every 5 shots on target, they are a deadly side. At one point this season, they were scoring in every game!
The Foxes are well set to win the Premier League title with the chasing pack faltering in midweek. Although the gap is only three points, do not put it past them to go all the way with other teams still distracted by domestic and European cup commitments.
| Total Shots | Shots on Target | Goals | Conversion Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 262 | 133 | 51 | 19.5% |
Conversion rate of other EPL teams
6: Tottenham Hotspur – 15.5%
7: Chelsea – 15.4%
8: West Ham – 15.3%
9: Sunderland – 15%
10: Norwich City – 14.6%
11: Arsenal – 14.3%
12: Bournemouth – 14.2%
13: Stoke City – 14.1%
14: Liverpool – 13.8%
15: Watford – 13.8%
