2. Southampton
The Saints have had both a seven-match winless streak and a five-match unbeaten run. In a fit of madness befitting of the Joker, I wrote a column stating they would challenge Liverpool’s unbeaten streak. Southampton lost that match 4-0.
I had my reasons for that take. I really did. The good news for the Saints is that they are in 14th place in the Premier League and are seven points clear of the drop. However, the club is what I call “red across the board.” Their conversion rate in the offense, defense, and points are all in the negative.
Southampton is eighth in the league in xG at 41.59, however, they have only knocked in 35 goals. Their conversion rate of -6.59 puts them in 15th in this category. Danny Ings is one of the best clinical goalscorers in the Premier League with a conversion rate of +3.95. However, the rest of the squad has a rate of -10.54.
The gap between the two numbers is a Messi-level of dependency on one player. The Saints are 15th in the league in xGA. They have given up the third-most goals in the Top Flight, and their defensive goal conversion rate is second-worst at -6.85.
Southampton’s opponents have a PSxG/SoT of 0.36 against their defense, the league’s highest. Ralph Hasenhüttl’s club has earned 34 points so far, but had an xPTS of 41.09, putting their conversion rate at -7.09, placing them in 16th.