Erling Haaland is one of the most prolific goal scorers to ever grace the Premier League – and the world. The young Norwegian striker is still in his up-and-coming phase, as he was discovered as a stand-out at Borussia Dortmund when he was still a teenager. Just a few years later, he has cemented himself as one of the all-time greats, breaking EPL records in his first year at Manchester City.
However, he is not the only prime player currently fighting for attention in the Premier League. Ollie Watkins, a talented attacker at Aston Villa, has put his team on his back at numerous points throughout the season. Despite Villa not challenging for one of the top three spots, Watkins has continually shined in the league this season.
Erling Haaland Stats
"It's not done yet" ⏳@kylewalker2 discusses the @premierleague season finale 👇 pic.twitter.com/cqeDyfoSVf
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 15, 2024
Haaland has played in 48 matches so far this season in all competitions, including the Carabao Cup, Community Shield, Champions League, FA Cup, UEFA Supercup, European Championship, friendlies, The Atlantic Cup, and the Premier League.
Haaland has scored 44 goals in all competitions, averaging nearly one goal every game. Haaland netted seven assists so far this year for City and completed three hattricks, which some strikers never do in their entire lifetime.
He is in the 119th percentile for minutes played on the year and has a 77% pass completion rate – very good for a prolific striker who usually plays in the other team’s 18-yard box.
Haaland averages 3.9 shots per game and takes a little over 4.5 shots before netting a goal. Haaland scores every 118 minutes during a game.
Haaland’s best stats are in the Premier League, where he has scored 27 goals in 28 games for Manchester City.
Ollie Watkins Stats
Currently, Ollie Watkins has played in 53 matches so far in the 2023-2024 season, including the Europa Conference League, Premier League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup, and the Summer Series. He has netted 31 goals for his club, earned 13 assists on the year, and scored two hattricks this season.
His average minutes played for the season for Villa is in the 115%, showing how he is reliable, consistent, and injury-free throughout a long and tenuous season.
His pass completion rate is nearly 80%, which is key for an attacking-minded midfielder when threading through balls to the strikers. He averages 2.79 shots per game, with 4.79 shots per goal. So, one in every five shots ends up in a goal for Aston Villa.
Watkins plays for an average of 179 minutes before scoring a goal, averaging a goal every two games.
Watkins’ best statistics are in the Europa Conference League, where he played nine games and scored eight goals.
Also Read: Clubs To Vote To Eliminate VAR In The Premier League on June 6th
Manchester City vs. Aston Villa
Comparing how each player did in the Premier League this season, it is key to know where their teams ended up on the table. Manchester City is currently sitting in first place, with the final trophy race coming down to the last day between Pep Guardiola’s side and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. Arsenal did have first place, but City had a game in hand and made up some points.
On the other hand, Aston Villa are sitting in fourth place. They made a huge push for the top three this season, a result that would have been huge for the club. Despite not being in the top trio, earning fourth place is enough to get them into European football next year. For a smaller club, Ollie Watkins and his teammates can be extremely happy with this result.
About the Author
Emma is an athlete and sports fan who currently plays professional soccer. Growing up, she reached a high level in track and field, distance running, and soccer on both club and university teams.
