How does Sunderland's xG total compare to this weekend's opponents, Aston Villa, and the rest of the Premier League?
Sunderland’s defence has once again delivered the goods in their recent run of good form.
The Black Cats have won three of their last four matches, including their last two, conceding just two goals during that time and keeping two clean sheets. That’s in keeping with how the Wearsiders have performed all season, with Regis Le Bris’ men conceding just 36 goals in 32 games - alongside 10 clean sheets - in a defensive record bettered only by the top two.
That’s made Sunderland competitive in almost every match they’ve played, but with only 33 goals scored, it has sometimes been a grind. But how does their goals tally line up with their xG total, and where do they stand in comparison to the rest of the Premier League in that regard?
Sunderland xG compared to Aston Villa and other Premier League rivals
Chelsea: 60.4
Manchester City: 57.5
Arsenal: 55.0
Manchester United: 54.5
Liverpool: 52.6
Brentford: 51.9
AFC Bournemouth: 51.2
Crystal Palace: 48.3
Newcastle United: 47.9
Brighton & Hove Albion: 47.9
Leeds United: 45.6
Fulham: 41.3
Aston Villa: 39.0
West Ham United: 38.7
Everton: 38.7
Nottingham Forest: 36.9
Tottenham Hotspur: 33.3
Sunderland: 31.6
Wolverhampton Wanderers: 28.6
Burnley: 28.0
Despite being firmly in the European hunt, Sunderland’s 31.6 xG is the third-lowest in the Premier League, only ahead of the bottom two: Wolves (28.6) and Burnley (28.0). The Black Cats have actually overperformed their xG by 1.4 with 33 actual goals scored, which is the joint-third-lowest in the English top flight, ahead of Wolves (24) and Nottingham Forest (32), and level with Burnley.
There are some teams that mirror Sunderland. For example, Everton’s 38.7 xG is 15th in the Premier League, but the Toffees have slightly overperformed it with 39 goals scored, while their formidable defensive record of 37 goals conceded has carried them to eighth, a point ahead of the Mackems. This weekend’s opponents, Aston Villa, have an xG of just 39.0 (13th), but have overperformed it by 4.0, while they’ve conceded just 38 goals and have nine clean sheets to their name.
Perhaps the biggest shocks in the xG table are Chelsea in first with 60.4 - a total they’ve underperformed by 7.4 - and Tottenham down in 17th on 33.3; a total they’ve overperformed by 6.7 as they sit in the bottom three with just six games to go.
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