Manchester United centre-back Matthijs de Ligt has taken the same number of shots on target in the Premier League as Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee combined – a shocking statistic which explains the Red Devils’ struggles this season.
Ruben Amorim’s side are currently languished in 14th in the table with a negative goal difference and twelve defeats already.
Only five teams have scored fewer in the Premier League – Everton, West Ham, Ipswich Town, Leicester, and Southampton – with Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah just eight goals behind the entire United team.
The striking duo of Hojlund and Zirkzee – who cost in excess of £100 million across successive summers combined – have scored just five goals in total (two for Hojlund, three for Zirkzee).
By comparison, De Ligt’s smart finish from a corner in the chaotic 3-2 win over Ipswich last night took the Dutch defender level with Hojlund on goals.
And Who Scored revealed the former Bayern Munich star has made the same number of attempts on goal as Hojlund and Zirkzee combined, with eight shots on target this season.
Matthijs De Ligt has now had the same number of shots on target as Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee in the Premier League this season (8). 👀 pic.twitter.com/eDtun53Ddm
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) February 27, 2025
Tweet: “Matthijs De Ligt has now had the same number of shots on target as Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee in the Premier League this season (8).”
If ever there was a statistic to explain a team’s fundamental weakness, it’s that.
United’s forward line has been woeful this season. But, evidently, there is an issue with confidence as much as execution. The striker simply aren’t taking enough shots to score.
A certain streak of selfishness is a prerequisite to be a successful forward.
Alejandro Garnacho, as an example, has his trait which, while frustrating, explains why he has scored more times in all competitions than either of his teammates, despite playing deeper less centrally than both. The 20-year-old winger is happy to shoot as many times as necessary until he scores.
When a centre-back is producing as many attempts on goal as both of your strikers, you know it’s time to take a plunge into the transfer marker for a new number nine.
Which is exactly what United look ready to do this summer with Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen appearing at the top of the club’s wish list – a player never afraid to take a shot.
Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
