What Premier League table looks like based on xG as Man United concerns emerge

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Latest football news as Manchester United and Manchester City's performances so far this season in the Premier League have been ranked against rivals based on their xG performance

Benjamin Sesko and Manchester United have not scored from open play this season(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Two weeks into the 2025/26 Premier League season and some teams have already started to demonstrate their ambitions. Following the opening rounds of games, an alternative view of the table has emerged that provides interesting viewing.

Over the weekend, there were some noticeable results. Manchester City suffered a shock 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham on Saturday before Manchester United's frustrations continued with a 1-1 draw at Fulham.

Champions Liverpool, unconvincingly, made it two wins from two on Monday night at Newcastle thanks to 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha's injury-time winner. Chelsea also caught the eye with an emphatic 5-1 win over West Ham United.

With 36 rounds of matches to go, there is plenty of football to play. But with help from stats specialists Opta, a table based on the expected goals for each team has been produced which provides a specific metric of performance so far.

Expected goals (xG) is a metric calculated based on the value of opportunities and shots on goal from each Premier League team and has become a widely-used measure to evaluate teams and performances. It provides an estimate of the number of goals a team should have theoretically scored.

The table uses statistics and data from the first two games of the season. No surprise, after the resounding win over West Ham on Friday, Chelsea top the table with an xG of 4.35, despite failing to score in the 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace.

Behind them is Arsenal with 4.19 xG after scoring six in their first two games. It means the Gunners have outperformed their xG by 1.81. Elsewhere, United's early problems in the final third are clear with Leny Yoro's goal on Sunday, from a corner, their only one this season so far.

According to the data, Ruben Amorim's men have an xG of 3.15, which is 2.15 goals below what they have actually scored. Only Brighton (-2.91) have a worse 'Goals vs XG' ratio after they failed to score against Everton at the weekend.

Manchester City were beaten 2-0 by Tottenham on Saturday(Image: DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)

Man City's xG sits at 4.02, which largely comes from the 4-0 win at Wolves. Following their dramatic win at Newcastle, Liverpool have an xG of 2.9 despite scoring seven goals in their first two games.

Nottingham Forest have an xG of 2.76, despite scoring four goals, while Brentford are underperforming their 2.70 xG with two goals scored so far. Newcastle's is slightly lower than the Reds at 2.4.

Tottenham and Sunderland have both scored more than what the xG portrays. Thomas Frank's men have scored five times compared to the 3.43 xG whereas the Black Cats' blank at Burnley still has them outperforming their xG of 1.53.

xG Premier League table

1.

Chelsea

4.35

2.

Arsenal

4.19

3.

Man City

4.02

4.

Brighton

3.91

5.

Tottenham

3.43

6.

Man United

3.15

7.

Bournemouth

2.99

8.

Liverpool

2.9

9.

Nottingham Forest

2.76

10.

Brentford

2.70

11.

Fulham

2.52

12.

Newcastle

2.4

13.

Everton

2.4

14.

Leeds

2.30

15.

Burnley

1.93

16.

Crystal Palace

1.76

17.

Sunderland

1.53

18.

Aston Villa

1.39

19.

West Ham

1.29

20.

Wolves

1.02