Attacking Power Rankings: Week 6 xG Leaders and Laggards

The Premier League heading into Week 6 has given us a fascinating look at the teams excelling in front of goal and those who seem to be firing blanks. Expected Goals (xG) are becoming the go-to metric to understand a team’s attacking threat, and Week 6’s numbers reveal a sharp contrast between the giants of the league and those struggling to keep pace.

At the top, Manchester City leads the way with a monstrous 11.3 xG. Pep Guardiola’s machine is in full force, and their ability to create high-quality chances is unmatched. It’s no surprise to see them dominate this category, as they make every inch of space on the pitch count. But let’s see how much the Rodri injury will affect their ability to keep this up. Not far behind, Liverpool has a mouth-watering 9.8 xG, showing that their high-octane attacking style is firing under Slot. Meanwhile, Manchester United and Tottenham round out the top teams—both clubs balancing steady attacking play with moments of brilliance. Bournemouth sneaking into the top five at 8.6 xG may raise some eyebrows, but this is a team quietly going about their business, proving they can compete offensively with the big boys.

On the flip side, teams like Ipswich Town and Leicester City are suffering in the xG department, both hovering at the bottom of the rankings. Ipswich, with just 3.2 xG, seems to be struggling to convert possession into meaningful chances, and if they can’t find a way to improve, they could be in for a long season. Leicester’s 4.0 xG shows a similar lack of cutting edge, which must be a worry given their ambitions to stay competitive after returning to the Premier League. Wolves and Everton, are also on the wrong end of the xG scale, suggesting that despite their talent, they’ve been wasteful or simply not creating the chances needed to stay in the upper echelons of the table.

You don’t need to worry about Arsenal’s low xG to start the season. Going away to Villa, Spurs, and City and playing 2/5 games with 10 men will lead to low attacking output. This will change over the coming weeks.

Defensive Woes and Wonders: Week 6 xG Against Breakdown

Defending well is the foundation of any successful Premier League campaign, and as Week 6 approches, the expected goals against (xGA) stats paint a clear picture of which teams are locking it down at the back—and which sides are leaking like a sieve.

At the top of the class are Manchester City and Liverpool, putting on defensive clinics every week. City’s 3.6 xGA shows how airtight they’ve become under Pep Guardiola, with their ball possession game being their best form of defense. Liverpool isn’t far behind, and Slot’s side is doing a fantastic job of limiting opposition chances, keeping them at just under 4.0 xGA. Nottingham Forest’s inclusion in the top three might surprise some, but Nuno’s side has become a tough nut to crack, showing that they’re no pushovers anymore.

Now, let’s take a peek at the other end of the spectrum, where things aren’t quite so rosy. Ipswich Town’s 10.9 xGA is a glaring red flag for the newly promoted side. It’s clear they are allowing far too many high-quality chances, and unless they tighten up fast, it’s going to be a brutal introduction to top-flight football. Brentford and West Ham also find themselves in the danger zone. For Brentford, this might be a case of their high-press style leaving them vulnerable at the back, while West Ham’s shaky start suggests they’re still trying to find balance between attack and defense.

Meanwhile, Everton and Southampton, despite being known for scrappy, resolute defenses in years past, seem to be uncharacteristically porous. Everton’s 9.0 xGA is especially concerning given their long-standing reputation as a defensively solid outfit, and Sean Dyche will be pulling his hair out trying to get them back on track.

In short, the xGA stats tell us who is putting in the defensive graft and who is sleepwalking through matches. City and Liverpool? They look primed for a title charge. Ipswich and Brentford? They’ll need to dig deep if they’re to avoid a season-long relegation battle.