United & Saints Miss Most Chances

EFL Cup finalists Manchester United and Southampton rank bottom for converting chances in the Premier League - but how bad are they?

Both teams have kept impressive defensive records this season but struggled to convert clear-cut opportunities at the other end.

United have the worst 'big chance' conversion rate in the Premier League - defined by Opta as an opportunity where a player is 'reasonably expected to score, usually in a one-on-one scenario or from very close range'.

Jose Mourinho's men have scored only 16 of their 48 big chances, while Southampton rank second worst with 37.5 per cent, scoring just 12 from 32.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has netted 15 Premier League goals for United this season, but the Swede has also missed 13 clear opportunities and only converted 32 per cent of his big chances.


Team-mate Jesse Lingard has not converted any of his three chances and world-record signing Paul Pogba has only netted once from six gaping opportunities - missing three of those during United's 1-1 draw with Stoke in October.

For Southampton, Jay Rodriguez has missed four of his six big chances - more than any other player at the south-coast club.

However, team-mates Shane Long and James Ward-Prowse convert fewer big chances on average, both only netting one of their four opportunities, with Long missing two during the Saints' 2-1 defeat at Arsenal in September.

League leaders Chelsea have scored 52 goals, while runners-up Manchester City are only one shy on 51 - but United have only managed to find the back of the net on 38 occasions.

Ibrahimovic has scored 40 per cent of those goals, while Juan Mata and Paul Pogba have also chipped in with six and four strikes, respectively.

Southampton have also struggled with firepower this term with 28 goals - which is well below the Premier League average of 35.2.

Charlie Austin is the Saints top scorer with six goals, despite being sidelined with a shoulder injury since mid-December.

However, January signing Manolo Gabbiadini has hit the ground running under Claude Puel, scoring three in just two league games.

United have only conceded 21 goals this season, while Southampton have leaked 31 - so both clubs are typically resolute defensively and will need to convert opportunities on at Wembley Sunday.

Credit: Skysports.com