Premier League Stats 2024: How Did Top Clubs and Players Perform Last Year?
As the festive season fades into memory, football fans can take solace in the thrilling journey that lies ahead in the Premier League. The new year offers fresh opportunities for triumph and redemption across the top-flight table. While some managers may feel the weight of unresolved challenges, others might quietly relish the successes of the past year. For every club, 2024 was either a celebration or a chapter to swiftly forget.
With the countdown to midnight now in the rear-view mirror, teams have set aside their brief celebrations, returning to the grind of tactics and preparation. However, before the year’s events vanish into history, there’s value in revisiting the standout performances and surprising statistics that defined the league in 2024.
Let’s dive into the numbers and uncover the best and worst performers over the past calendar year. Brace yourself for a detailed journey through the highs and lows of Premier League football, filled with unexpected outcomes and statistical intrigue.
The Overall 2024 Premier League Table
While Liverpool may dominate the current season, it was Arsenal who emerged as the leaders of the Premier League table for the entire calendar year. Under Mikel Arteta’s guidance, the Gunners showed unwavering consistency and edged out Liverpool with a superior goal difference.
Manchester City secured third place, while Chelsea took fourth in a reflection of their resilience.
Newcastle United, revitalised under Eddie Howe, demonstrated remarkable improvement, finishing fifth. They were followed by Aston Villa in sixth and Bournemouth in a surprising seventh.
On the flip side, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United languished in ninth and tenth places, reflecting their struggles over the year. Southampton, rooted to the bottom, seemed destined for relegation.
Most Goals Scored in 2024
Liverpool claimed the title of top scorers with an impressive 92 league goals. Arsenal followed closely with 89, while Manchester City’s firepower resulted in 83 goals. Chelsea once again occupied fourth spot, scoring 81 goals.
Newcastle’s attacking flair saw them notch up 80 goals, while Tottenham, under Ange Postecoglou, managed 73 with their adventurous style of play.
Brentford’s continued success under Thomas Frank yielded 62 goals, much to the envy of larger clubs. Meanwhile, Manchester United endured a dismal year, managing just 56 goals. At the bottom of the scoring charts, Southampton netted a mere 12 goals, with Ipswich scoring 18.
Goals Conceded in 2024
No team wants the unwanted accolade of conceding the most goals, but West Ham took this unfortunate crown, allowing 79 goals. Wolves followed closely with 76, while Brentford, Aston Villa, and Tottenham conceded 66, 65, and 60 goals, respectively.
Manchester United and Newcastle were both breached 57 times. Arsenal, on the other hand, boasted the meanest defence, conceding only 23 goals. Ipswich’s defence, despite being newly promoted, ranked second with 33 goals conceded, though their fewer fixtures skew the numbers. Manchester City, having endured a patchy run, conceded 39.
Shots Faced in 2024
A team’s defensive solidity is often reflected in the number of shots they face. West Ham again topped this undesirable category, enduring 661 attempts on goal. Brentford followed with 632 shots faced, further highlighting their defensive vulnerabilities.
Manchester United faced 572 shots, symptomatic of tactical issues under Erik ten Hag and later Ruben Amorim. Wolves allowed 562 attempts, while Newcastle, Chelsea, and Everton faced 535, 516, and 509 shots, respectively.
At the other end of the spectrum, Ipswich allowed the fewest shots (293). Among the traditional ‘Big Six,’ Manchester City stood out with the best defensive record, facing only 323 attempts.
Average Possession in 2024
Unsurprisingly, Manchester City led the possession stats, ending the year with an average of 64.4%. Tottenham followed with an impressive 61.3%, reflecting their control of the ball. Liverpool rounded out the top three with 60% possession.
Sheffield United recorded the lowest average possession at 34.7%, while Nottingham Forest and Everton managed 40.2% and 40.5%, respectively. Arsenal’s possession-focused approach under Arteta resulted in an average of 55.9%, while Manchester United held 51.5%.
Clean Sheets in 2024
Arsenal’s defensive strength was further emphasised by their 18 clean sheets, the highest in the league. Everton surprised many by finishing second with 14 shutouts. Manchester City (12) and Liverpool (11) also impressed in this area.
Brighton and Newcastle each kept 10 clean sheets, while Sheffield United and Burnley failed to secure a single one. Manchester United’s defensive woes limited them to nine clean sheets, with Bournemouth, Chelsea, and Fulham recording eight each.
Top Scorers of 2024
The race for the Premier League’s golden boot was fiercely contested, but Erling Haaland of Manchester City emerged victorious with 27 goals. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer was a close second with 26 strikes, followed by Newcastle’s Alexander Isak with 25 goals.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah netted 23, while Chris Wood, Ollie Watkins, and Jean-Philippe Mateta each scored 18. Nicolas Jackson and Matheus Cunha rounded out the top scorers with 16 goals apiece.
Most Assists in 2024
Mohamed Salah’s creativity matched his goal-scoring prowess, as he topped the assist chart with 16. Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka each registered 13 assists, followed by Kevin De Bruyne with 12, despite his injury struggles.
Son Heung-min tallied 11 assists, while Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Gordon, Declan Rice, Bruno Guimarães, and Morgan Gibbs-White each contributed 10 assists.
Chances Created in 2024
Bruno Fernandes led the league in chances created, with 99 opportunities fashioned, 66 of which came from open play. Cole Palmer followed with 97, while Kevin De Bruyne recorded 84.
Bukayo Saka and Andreas Pereira both created 83 chances, with Anthony Gordon and Dwight McNeil adding 78 and 75, respectively. Liverpool’s Andy Robertson stood out as the only defender in the top 20 with 65 chances created.
Top Tacklers of 2024
Wolves’ João Gomes emerged as the league’s top tackler with 129 successful challenges. Crystal Palace’s Daniel Muñoz followed closely with 121, while Alexis Mac Allister completed 120 tackles.
Other standout tacklers included Moisés Caicedo (115), Tyrick Mitchell (110), and Casemiro (101). Antonee Robinson and Bruno Guimarães also earned spots among the top tacklers with 93 and 91 tackles, respectively.
Discipline: Yellow and Red Cards in 2024
Wolves’ Nélson Semedo led the discipline charts, amassing 12 yellow cards and one red. Marc Cucurella of Chelsea was second with 11 yellows and one red. João Gomes and Marcos Senesi also received 12 yellow cards each.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Southampton’s Jack Stephens were sent off twice during the year, while Kalvin Phillips also received two red cards.
Final Thoughts
The Premier League’s 2024 statistics reveal a captivating narrative of triumphs, struggles, and surprises. As the new year unfolds, fans and analysts alike will watch eagerly to see if these trends continue or if the league’s ever-changing dynamics usher in new stories. The numbers don’t lie—they illuminate the journey of each club and player, underscoring the relentless drama of the beautiful game.