If you were betting on the premier league 2023/24 - most goals assists title back in August, you probably had your money on Erling Haaland or maybe Mo Salah. It makes sense. They're the machines. But football is weird, and this year, the stat sheet looked a bit like a fever dream. We ended up with a kid from Wythenshawe leading the entire league in total goal involvements and a guy from Torquay becoming the undisputed king of assists.
Honestly, the numbers this year were staggering. We saw 1,246 goals across the season. That’s a record, by the way. It basically means defenders were having a collective nightmare for nine months straight.
The Cold Reality of Cole Palmer
Let’s talk about Cole Palmer. Most people thought he was just another squad player making a move for more minutes. Instead, he finished the season with 33 goal involvements. That’s 22 goals and 11 assists. For a 22-year-old at a Chelsea side that spent half the season looking for its own shadow, that is genuinely insane.
He didn't just score; he carried.
You’ve got to remember that he wasn't even a regular starter until October. If he’d played every minute from game one, he might have actually cleared 40. He became the first Chelsea player since Eden Hazard to look like he could win a game by just deciding to. His penalty record was perfect too—nine out of nine. Cold.
✨ Don't miss: Mizzou 2024 Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
Haaland Still Does Haaland Things
Erling Haaland won the Golden Boot again. 27 goals. In a season where people said he was "having a quiet one" or "struggling for form," he still scored more than everyone else. It’s a bit of a joke, really.
He added 5 assists to that tally, bringing his total involvement to 32.
- Erling Haaland: 27 goals, 5 assists (32 total)
- Alexander Isak: 21 goals, 2 assists (23 total)
- Phil Foden: 19 goals, 8 assists (27 total)
Haaland missed a chunk of time with a foot injury, but when he came back, he just kept poaching. People criticize his "all-round game," but when you're averaging nearly a goal a game, do you even need an all-round game? Probably not.
The Ollie Watkins Masterclass
While everyone was looking at the big six, Ollie Watkins was quietly putting up numbers that most strikers only dream of. He didn't just score 19 goals; he topped the assist charts with 13.
🔗 Read more: Current Score of the Steelers Game: Why the 30-6 Texans Blowout Changed Everything
No penalties. None.
Think about that. If Watkins had been Aston Villa's primary penalty taker, he would have likely outscored Haaland. He became the focal point of Unai Emery's system, stretching defenses and setting up Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby like he’d been a playmaker his whole life. He finished with 32 goal involvements, tied with Haaland and just one behind Palmer.
Phil Foden’s Main Character Energy
Phil Foden finally moved into that central "number 10" role we’ve all been shouting for. The result? 19 goals and 8 assists.
He didn't just pad his stats against the bottom three either. He scored hat-tricks against Brentford and Aston Villa and bagged a brace on the final day to help City clinch the title. He’s basically become the guy Pep Guardiola can’t drop. Kevin De Bruyne was out for a long time, and Foden just stepped into the vacuum and took over.
💡 You might also like: Last Match Man City: Why Newcastle Couldn't Stop the Semenyo Surge
- Total G/A: 27
- Big Chances Created: 10
- Clutch Factor: 100%
What Most People Get Wrong About the Stats
There’s a misconception that "most goals and assists" is just about who plays for the best team. While City and Arsenal players dominate, look at Alexander Isak. 21 goals for a Newcastle side that was decimated by injuries. He had a goal-per-minute ratio that was actually better than almost everyone in the league.
Then there's Mo Salah. People said he was "off it" after the AFCON injury, yet he still finished with 18 goals and 10 assists. That’s 28 involvements. A "bad" season for Salah is a career-best for 90% of the league.
The 2023/24 season showed that the gap between the "pure strikers" and the "creative tens" is basically gone. You have to do both now. If you aren't hitting double digits in both categories or at least coming close, you're falling behind the curve set by guys like Palmer and Watkins.
Actionable Insights for the 2024/25 Season
If you’re looking at these stats to figure out what happens next, keep an eye on these specific trends:
- Penalty Reliance: Palmer’s 9 penalties boosted his tally significantly. If Chelsea gets fewer calls next year, his "open play" output will be tested.
- The Watkins Blueprint: Watch for more "complete" strikers. Coaches are looking for the next Watkins—someone who drops deep to create rather than just hanging on the shoulder of the last defender.
- Youth Dominance: The fact that the top two G/A leaders (Palmer and Haaland) are both under 24 suggests the league's power balance has shifted to the younger generation.
To really get the full picture, you should look at "Non-Penalty Expected Goals" (npxG) versus actual output. Players like Nicolas Jackson (14 goals) actually underperformed their expected stats, meaning with a bit better finishing, they’ll be the ones climbing the charts next time around. Keep a close watch on the underlying numbers; they usually tell you who the next breakout star is before it actually happens on the pitch.