Photo via BBC Sport

How Premier League teams have really started - according to xG

Early season league standings can often mislead observers, as illustrated by data examining expected goals metrics across English top-flight clubs. BBC statistician Chris Collinson points out that underlying chance creation paints a clearer picture of true performance than raw points totals alone.

Arsenal currently lead the metric for overall performance difference despite a heavy weekend loss, closely followed by Manchester City. Meanwhile, clubs such as Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, and Bournemouth demonstrate underlying figures superior to their current positions in the standings, whereas Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, and Newcastle United lag behind in overall dominance.