SoT For: Sharpshooters Shine While Misfiring Teams Struggle to Find the Mark

On the top end, Manchester City are predictably firing on all cylinders, leading the pack with a barrage of shots on target. It’s almost an unfair advantage when you have a team that not only dominates possession but knows how to convert that into clear opportunities. They’re setting a frightening pace with a commanding presence in front of goal. Just behind them, Liverpool and Tottenham are matching each other stride for stride. You have to admire their relentless pressing styles, breaking defenses with precise, clinical efforts. Fulham and Bournemouth round out the group, showing that they too can muscle their way into the top tier when it comes to creating real danger in front of goal. It’s a refreshing sight to see Bournemouth up there, mixing it with the traditional big boys, while Fulham continue to show that last season’s success was no fluke.

But then there’s the flip side — the teams who seem allergic to the goal. Ipswich Town top the list of shot-shy squads, with their Premier League adventure so far looking more like a struggle for survival. Southampton and Leicester City are also feeling the weight of misfiring attacks. With Leicester trying to regain their footing after a tumultuous few seasons, their lack of sharpness in front of goal feels like a symptom of a deeper problem. And West Ham and Everton — two clubs with storied histories — find themselves rooted in the bottom five. It’s especially concerning for Everton, where the club’s long-standing problems in attack seem to persist, despite numerous attempts to revamp their frontline.

It’s shaping up to be a season where the difference between mid-table mediocrity and relegation contention could come down to just how well a team can take their chances. The best teams are proving why they belong at the top, while the others… well, they need to start finding their shooting boots before it’s too late.

SoT Against: Defensive Masterclasses and Leaky Backlines Define the Early Season

At the top of the defensive masterclass, Manchester City and Brighton are showcasing defensive solidity that dreams are made of. City’s dominance is no surprise—this is a team that can suffocate any attacking threat with their ridiculous possession stats and high-pressing tactics. It’s often said that the best defense is a good offense, and Pep Guardiola’s side lives by that mantra, making it near-impossible for the opposition to even get a sniff at goal. Brighton, under Fabian Hürzeler, are another story. Their rise to prominence is built on organized chaos—pressing high, countering fast, and keeping opponents to a minimum of shots on target. Their 14 SoT conceded so far is no fluke.

Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, and Aston Villa round out the best of the best, holding firm under the pressure and allowing the fewest SoT against. These teams have managed to build their foundations on pragmatic defending, combining high-energy play with disciplined back lines. Aston Villa, in particular, have quietly gone about their business under Unai Emery, looking more stable as the weeks progress.

But then, there are the teams struggling to defend their goal like it’s a fortress. Bournemouth and Brentford are out there, practically inviting opponents to take potshots at their goalkeepers. 36 shots on target against in just five matches is a defensive crisis waiting to happen. Bournemouth’s leaky back line is clearly still adjusting to Premier League life, and Brentford’s chaos-heavy style of play has left them exposed far too often. Both will need to tighten up before the goals start raining in.

Southampton, Newcastle, and Everton are also struggling in this regard. For Newcastle, it’s a bit of a shocker—after last season’s defensive resilience, they seem to be buckling under pressure in a more attacking system. Everton, well, their issues at the back are hardly a surprise given the turbulent form they’ve been in over the past few years. Meanwhile, Southampton’s freefall continues, and their defensive woes are stacking up.