Son Heung-Min – the Premier League’s biggest overperformer

When Son Heung-min secured Tottenham’s exhilarating 3-1 comeback victory over Crystal Palace on March 2 with a dazzling 88th-minute strike, it marked a truly exceptional moment. His decisive goal, expertly placed beyond the outstretched left arm of Sam Johnston, epitomized his trademark flair. However, Son’s uncharacteristic lack of precision earlier in the game was evident, as this goal constituted only his fifth and final attempt on target. It was a day when his usual clinical efficiency seemed to have abandoned him, only to resurface in the game’s dying moments.

Throughout this season, Son has undeniably shone as the Premier League’s most effective and clinical forward. Yet, his remarkable ability to consistently deliver outstanding performances despite receiving limited service often goes unacknowledged. While he remains a favourite among football betting enthusiasts, who eagerly explore various online soccer betting options and bonuses, Son’s talent for thriving in adverse situations tends to be overlooked. Amidst the excitement of soccer betting, Son’s resilience serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the sport

The stats say Son has been underserviced

Son Heung-Min scored once from the two shots he mustered in Tottenham’s top-four tussle with Aston Villa (4-0) last weekend, taking his tally up to 14 for the campaign in the Premier League, and pushing him to within four goals of Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot.

Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins (16), Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (15) and Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke (15) are all currently ahead of Son in the charts, however, all three of those forwards, along with City’s Haaland, tend to have more chances created for them by their teammates than Son.

Much of Manchester City’s forward play is geared towards getting Erling Haaland into goal-scoring positions and the Norwegian’s 22.05 expected goals (xG) figure for the campaign – which is the division’s highest – reflects that.

Ollie Watkins meanwhile, has an xG figure of 16.86 for the season so far, while Solanke (16.62) and Salah (14.26), both rank in the Premier League’s top five this term for the same metric.

The xG standings offer our first inkling into just how decisive Son has been in comparison. The 31-year-old has lodged an xG of just 8.60 for Tottenham in the Premier League this season – a tally that even puts him behind players like Wolves’ Matheus Cunha (8.72), Luton’s Carlton Morris (8.88) and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin (9.35) in that regard.

Son’s conversion rate from the half-baked chances he’s had for Tottenham this season has been beyond stellar. The iconic attacker has overperformed his xG by a massive 5.40 in 2023/24, meaning that Son has scored five more goals than he should have based on the quality of his opportunities.

To add context, the league’s next best performer in that arena is Arsenal’s Declan Rice (+3.62), while most of Son’s rivals for the Golden Boot, Haaland (-4.05), Watkins (-0.86), Salah (+0.74) and Solanke (-1.62) have underperformed in comparison, with only Egyptian Salah in the black.

Son sees less of the ball than his rivals

Son Heung-Min’s ability to maintain his high output from choked supply lines has been sensational this term and incredibly, 13 different Premier League attackers have registered more total shots at goal than the Spurs star this season.

The quarter of top-tier forwards currently ahead of Son in the goalscoring charts, Erling Haaland (91), Ollie Watkins (86), Dominic Solanke (86) and Mohamed Salah (70) have all posted far loftier shot tallies than Son (59), who continues to turn scraps into Michelin Star meals.

With chances to score more limited for Son, his laser-like accuracy has been key and the former Leverkusen winger has been finding the target with 48% of his shots in the Premier League this season – another stat that puts him clear of his Golden Boot rivals.

Record breaker Erling Haaland has been accurate with 44.8% of his strikes, Ollie Watkins has landed 45.3% of his attempts on target, while Dominic Solanke (35.3%) and Mohamed Salah (43.8%) have also been left trailing in Son’s wake.

In terms of average distance, Son has also been letting loose from further out when compared to his counterparts. The Tottenham talisman’s shots have been made from an average distance of 15.1 yards away from goal, despite the South Korean featuring as a centre forward in 15 of his 23 Premier League starts this season.

In comparison, Erling Haaland’s average shot distance sits at 11.5 yards, with Solanke (12.1) and Watkins (12.5) only slightly further out. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who plays in the main out of the right flank, has been shooting from an average distance of 16.3 yards, though his deeper overall position is a factor there.

Whichever statistical lens you choose to view it though, Son’s knack for making the absolute best of chances that come his way has been uncanny in 2023/24 and his penchant for turning slight opportunities into match-defining moments could fire Tottenham to top-four glory this term.