Darwin Núñez and the Art of Missing: The Premier League’s Most Wasteful Finishers

Darwin Núñez had another moment to forget against Aston Villa, ballooning a glorious chance over the bar when it seemed easier to score. Liverpool fans have become well acquainted with his erratic finishing, a mix of electric movement and chaotic execution. But how does he compare to the Premier League’s worst offenders when it comes to wasting big chances? The numbers tell an eye-watering story. 

Big Chances Missed – The Worst Offenders

Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Mohamed Salah has racked up a staggering 100 big chances, converting just 49 of them. His overall big chance conversion rate sits at 49%, a surprisingly underwhelming figure for a player of his calibre. However, sheer volume makes his misses less damning—after all, he still delivers goals in abundance.

Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta, on the other hand, has been far less forgiving to his own xG. With 49 big chances, he’s only managed to put away 26, leaving him with a 53% conversion rate. That’s respectable compared to some, but when paired with just 29 goals from 89 games, it paints a picture of a striker who fluffs his lines more often than his numbers suggest he should.

Newcastle’s Alexander Isak might be the name that surprises people. He’s actually overperforming his expected goals (xG) by 5.1, showing he’s more clinical than expected. With 76 big chances, he’s scored 40, meaning his 53% conversion rate puts him well ahead of some of his peers. Still, given the number of opportunities he’s had, he could be delivering even more.

Where Does Núñez Stand?

Darwin Núñez has earned a reputation for unpredictability in front of goal, but his underlying numbers suggest there’s some merit to the criticism. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, he has had 79 big chances, converting just 36 of them, giving him a 45.6% conversion rate—the lowest among the major names in this list. Compared to Salah and Isak, he lags behind significantly in terms of efficiency.

His overall shot conversion rate of 18.5% further highlights his inconsistency, especially when stacked against players like Isak (24.7%) or Mateta (23.6%). Núñez consistently finds himself in excellent positions but leaves too many goals out on the pitch.

Who Has the Worst Big Chance Conversion?

Looking at all the top strikers in the league, Núñez’s 45.6% big chance conversion rate is the worst among those with a high volume of opportunities. While Salah and Mateta hover above the 49-53% mark, Núñez’s struggles in front of goal have made him the most frustrating finisher among the Premier League’s elite.

While the latest miss against Aston Vill

a will no doubt add to his growing highlight reel of frustration, Liverpool will hope his finishing sharpens before the season’s end. Until then, he remains one of the league’s most chaotic attacking threats—both for defenders and his own supporters.

Wasted Potential or Just Volume Shooters?

A key takeaway from this list is that players who miss a lot of chances often get into good positions regularly. Salah, for example, has the worst total in terms of big chances missed, but Liverpool wouldn’t swap him for anyone. The real issue is for those who don’t create enough chances to offset their misses—Mateta’s numbers, for instance, suggest inefficiency rather than prolificacy.

Núñez, meanwhile, sits somewhere in between. His movement ensures he’ll keep getting chances. The only question is whether his conversion rate will improve before patience runs out.

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