Premier League data revealed: Wolves top defensive leaderboard, Aston Villa one of best in attack

Wolverhampton Wanderers are the most over-performing side in the Premier League when it comes to defensive statistics with west midlands rivals’ Aston Villa ranking in the top four offensively, according to a new study.

The data, collected by BetVictor, analyses the expected goals (xG) of every team in England’s top flight and ranks their attack and defence relative to their expected goals and opponent expected goals.

Still with us? No? Not a problem as all we become a little clearer when it’s down in writing.

In simple terms, Wolves should have conceded far more goals than they have had but a mix of superb defending and elite level goalkeeping has seen them where they are today.

Only Manchester City (14) who currently lead the way atop of the Premier League have conceded less goals than Bruno Lage’s men (16) as they enter the second-half of the season.

And if that sounds like an incredible achievement, that’s because it is.

Wolves have ‘over-performed’ by some margin when you look into xG.

Their opponents so far this campaign have racked up an expected goals total of 27.1, that’s an 11.1 differential of the goals that have actually found their way into the back of the net.

But, what won’t come as much of a surprise is if you flip the statistics on their head and look at the stats going forward.

Wolves sit way down in 15th having only scored 18 goals of their own this season despite being projected 20.9.

The claret & blue’s fortunes are very much the opposite of their rivals, having outperformed offensively whilst under-performing defensively.

Villa sit in the Champions League places with their offensive statistics, behind only Chelsea, West Ham United and Liverpool.

Steven Gerrard’s men have found the net 26 times in the Premier League so far this season with an xG of just 22.2 - that’s a differential of 3.8.

Defensively on the other hand, they sit 14th.

Villa have conceded 31 times this season - with an opponent xG of 29 - suggesting they’ve let in a couple more than they should have done.

If they can sort out that defence for the back end of the campaign - there’s only one way the team will be heading.

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