The Unlucky Brigade: Every Premier League Club's Worst-Performing Player This Season

Cole Palmer's future at Chelsea may well hinge on an uncomfortable truth: the Blues accumulate just a single point whenever he takes the pitch. With interest from Manchester United circling and Palmer reportedly open to the move, Stamford Bridge's hierarchy could be tempted to cash in on the England forward, despite the potential backlash from supporters who consider him irreplaceable.

Examining each Premier League outfit's worst-performing player by points-per-game average this season (minimum eight appearances), a fascinating—and occasionally brutal—picture emerges.

Arsenal

Those vociferous fans who petitioned against Noni Madueke's signing may yet have the last laugh. After 23 league games, the forward sits at just 1.79 PPG, leading the charge as the Gunners' underperformer. His barren Premier League run stretches beyond a year without a goal, casting a shadow over Arsenal's summer recruitment strategy.

Aston Villa

Tyrone Mings started each of Villa's opening five winless matches, not missing a moment until limping off injured at 1-0 down to Fulham. That injury proved fortuitous: Villa won 3-1 and never looked back. Mings has featured twice since—losses at Liverpool and eventual victory at Newcastle—registering 1.13 PPG.

Bournemouth

Eli Junior Kroupi deserves sympathy despite his 1.17 rating. The 19-year-old has plundered seven Premier League goals this term, yet his presence coincided with Andoni Iraola's notorious 11-game winless streak. Tellingly, Bournemouth remained unbeaten in the five matches he missed.

Brentford

Dango Ouattara's AFCON absence proved enlightening. While the winger was away with Burkina Faso, Brentford won four and drew one. Upon his return, defeats to Chelsea and Nottingham Forest followed. His 1.18 PPG tells the story.

Brighton

Charalampos Kostoulas has accumulated just 183 minutes across 13 appearances, netting twice. Manager Fabian Hurzeler has spoken of the teenager's potential and developmental needs, yet the Greek prospect finds himself watching James Milner introduced ahead of him late on. His 1.08 PPG reflects limited opportunities and late-game cameos.

Burnley

Armando Broja's £20m price tag makes his 0.29 PPG particularly galling. Injured during August's Sunderland victory, then unused in October wins over Leeds and Wolves, the striker hasn't featured in a Premier League win since Abdoulaye Doucoure's goal against Nottingham Forest under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Chelsea

Palmer's two league wins this season both saw him find the net, yet Chelsea have proven perfectly functional without their supposed talisman. The club's willingness to entertain United's advances speaks volumes about his 1.0 PPG impact.

Crystal Palace

Christantus Uche represents Oliver Glasner's most expensive young gamble. The midfielder's longest Premier League appearance lasted 24 minutes—and yielded a victory. His 0.45 PPG reflects minimal opportunities as tensions between manager and ownership simmered.

Everton

Tyler Dibling's £42m move from Southampton has delivered precious little. Just four Premier League starts into his Everton career, the midfielder has yet to register a goal or assist. Even when injuries and AFCON depleted David Moyes' attacking options, Dibling struggled to seize his moment. His 1.0 PPG suggests the wait continues.

Fulham

Marco Silva has already confirmed Adama Traore is "likely to leave." His 1.2 PPG will soon become West Ham's headache, with Nuno's side reportedly keen on the winger.

Leeds

Daniel James last appeared when Leeds trailed 2-0 at Manchester City, with Daniel Farke approaching the exit. The Whites mounted a spirited comeback after his half-time substitution but fell short. Leeds have recorded three wins, six draws and one loss in his absence, posting 0.7 PPG. His return remains uncertain.

Liverpool

Rio Ngumoha's late heroics against Newcastle promised much but delivered little. The teenager has played in just one other Premier League win—against Burnley three weeks later—accumulating 1.0 PPG through sporadic appearances under Arne Slot.

Manchester City

Rodri's return from injury was meant to solve Pep Guardiola's problems. Instead, the Ballon d'Or holder has become an unlikely jinx, registering 1.45 PPG. His only victories when starting have come against Ruben Amorim's Manchester United, Napoli, Exeter and Wolves.

Manchester United

Joshua Zirkzee's absence from matchday squads coincided with United's victories over Manchester City and Arsenal—a detail Michael Carrick's emergence as a managerial wunderkind surely owes something to. The Dutchman's 1.43 PPG represents a dramatic shift from his guaranteed bench spot under previous regimes.

Newcastle United

Kieran Trippier's 1.09 PPG is genuinely startling given the form surrounding him. Anthony Elanga at 1.29 and Tino Livramento at 1.69 represent respectable figures by comparison, yet the captain's contribution appears distinctly muted.

Nottingham Forest

Arnaud Kalimuendo's £26m pedigree counted for nothing. Three managers and just two starts later—with nine substitute cameos—the forward departed on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt. He's since notched two Bundesliga goals in four games, having experienced fewer managerial changes in a fortnight than his entire Forest stint. His 0.22 PPG was damning.

Sunderland

Simon Adingra looked astute business when assisting on his winning debut and featuring in the Black Cats' first three victories. Since their September triumph at Nottingham Forest, however, he's played in no further league wins. His 1.07 PPG masks what's become an unconvincing wide-forward investment.

Spurs

Randal Kolo Muani's loan move promised sufficient minutes to secure France squad selection for this summer's tournament. That ship has sailed. His only goals across 23 appearances have come against PSG—the very club who loaned him out—yet Juventus are reportedly monitoring the 27-year-old's situation as he contemplates his future. His 0.87 PPG represents a miserable campaign.

West Ham

Soungoutou Magassa has barely featured since his £14.7m arrival. His most recent appearance ended at half-time during the 3-0 Wolves demolition, after which West Ham won two of three games. His single league victory came during a 19-minute cameo against Burnley in November. His 0.5 PPG justifies speculation about an early exit.

Wolves

Ki-Jana Hoever's loan departure couldn't come quickly enough. All eight Wolves appearances ended in defeat before Sheffield United took him on—and promptly lost his first two games, including an FA Cup shock at home to Mansfield. He finally tasted victory against Ipswich with three minutes' involvement. His 0.00 PPG at Wolves was genuinely historic.