Everton win unwanted Premier League award as new ranking emerges
Everton have not had the happiest fanbase in recent years, although they will hopefully change that in the near future.
The upcoming move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, as well as a few big signings through the door, may give fans optimism for change.
Everton have not won a trophy since 1995, and have let their standing slip in recent seasons as they survived a few relegation scares.
There is one table that David Moyes' side have topped, though, as they have now emerged as winners of an unwanted award following a new study on English football.
Everton ranked as Premier League's 'unluckiest' team
Everton fans would certainly call themselves unlucky, and it has now emerged that they are the unluckiest team in the entire Premier League over the last five seasons.
In a ranking curated by SPORTBIBLE and Opta, 12 different statistical categories, based on a wide range of factors across the last five years, were assessed to determine how unlucky a team is.
These factors were:
- Miles per point
- 2-0 leads sacrificed
- Last-minute winning goals conceded
- Goals conceded to former players
- Errors leading to goals
- Away losses
- Fewest points obtained
- Big chances missed
- Goals conceded within three minutes of scoring
- Goalless games
- Average rainfall
- Times woodwork was hit
Across these 12 categories, Everton finished top of the Premier League in one: big chances missed, and finished bottom of the 'woodwork hit' measurement, as well as ranking lowest for conceding within three minutes of scoring.
Everton's 35.6 per cent big chance conversion rate was the worst in the entire league, with Brighton in second, Wolves in third and Chelsea in fourth place.
| Category | Everton's PL rank |
| Miles per point | 3 |
| 2-0 leads sacrificed | 5 |
| Last-minute winning goals conceded | 13 |
| Goals conceded to former players | 3 |
| Errors leading to goals | 2 |
| Away losses | 6 |
| Fewest points obtained | 2 |
| Big chances missed | 1 |
| Goals conceded within three minutes of scoring | 20 |
| Goalless games | 7 |
| Average rainfall | 9 |
| Times woodwork was hit | 20 |
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin one of the league's biggest xG underperformers in that time, Everton fans will hope that a new-look attack can solve these issues in front of goal.
The lack of times the woodwork was hit could possibly be related to the missed big chances, with the ball less likely to hit the post or crossbar if it is consistently fired off target.
Everton narrowly avoided relegation in last five years
One key takeaway is that while Everton have been 'unlucky' in these rankings, they are perhaps lucky to still be in the Premier League.
2022 saw Everton pull off a great escape in the final weeks under Frank Lampard, but they have flirted with the drop zone in a few of these campaigns.
They rank near the top for lowest points, last-minute goals conceded and for poor shot conversion, and this lack of clinical finishing put them in danger, and they will now hope to strengthen their attacking options to ensure this is no longer the case.
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