It’s often said that scoring goals is the most difficult job in football. This lot would certainly agree…
Southampton’s season of struggle is in danger of entering record-breaking territory. Cut adrift at the bottom of the table, the Saints have just six points – the worst-ever start to a Premier League campaign.
Ivan Juric’s side can’t hit a barn door right now and have netted a measly 16 goals from their 23 games. Unless things improve, the struggling Saints are heading for a place on this dishonourable list.
Goals scored in the Premier League this season:
◉ 19 – Mohamed Salah◉ 18 – Erling Haaland◉ 17 – Alexander Isak◎ 16 – Southampton pic.twitter.com/sNXVLIvxL9
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) January 26, 2025
The lowest-scoring teams in Premier League history
5. Norwich City – 23 (2021/22)
The gravitational pull on Norwich City’s yo-yo existence was firmly downward during a forgettable 2021/22 campaign. Having breezed to the Championship title the previous season, the Canaries were comfortably the Premier League’s basement boys the following year.
Norwich mustered just 23 goals on route to a 20th-placed finish and relegation. Almost half of their goals (11) came from the reliable, if overburdened, Teemu Pukki. Josh Sarget (2) was the only other Norwich player to score more than once.
4. Huddersfield Town – 22 (2018/19)
Huddersfield’s sole season as a Premier League club was disappointing. The Terriers took until November to register their first win and took just six points from their final 25 games to drop straight back into the second tier.
Karlan Grant, who made just nine league starts after arriving in January, was the club’s top scorer with four goals.
3. Sunderland – 21 (2002/03)
Sunderland scored just 21 times on route to relegation during the 2002/03 season, despite a squad assembled with proven goalscorers.
Kevin Phillips had become England’s first European Golden Shoe winner in a Sunderland shirt in 2000, while Marcus Stewart was runner-up for the Premier League’s Golden Boot at former club Ipswich a year later.
In addition, Tore Andre Flo had hit 25 goals the previous season at Rangers before moving to The Stadium of Light.
Between them, the forwards found the net just 11 times in a sorry Sunderland season.
=1. Derby County – 20 (2007/08)
Whenever the Premier League’s poorest teams are discussed, Derby County’s 2007/08 vintage are usually at the forefront of thoughts.
The Rams recorded just 11 points during a record-breaking season of struggle, in which the club won once and failed to score in 22 games.
Kenny Miller, with just four goals, claimed the club’s top scorer prize.
=1. Sheffield United – 20 (2020/21)
Has there ever been a bigger case of ‘Second Season Syndrome’?
Sheffield United were a breath of fresh air in 2019/20 after promotion, as Chris Wilder’s flexible side and overlapping centre-backs secured a top-half finish. A year later, the Blades were blunted and scored a record-low of just 20 goals.
Their first win of the season did not arrive until January and a mini-revival was not enough to salvage their top-flight status.
Recruitment was costly with £24m record signing Rhian Brewster going goalless in 30 appearances.
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