The stats behind Manchester United's finishing issues
By Nick Wright
Last Updated: 23/01/17 6:41am
Wayne Rooney salvaged a 1-1 draw for Manchester United with his record-breaking equaliser against Stoke on Saturday, but it was another game in which poor finishing cost them dearly.
Jose Mourinho's side had 25 shots to Stoke's six at the Britannia Stadium, but they missed a string of scoring chances before Rooney's free kick sailed in at the death.
Juan Mata spurned their best opportunity when he blasted over from few yards out in the first half, but there were also misses from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford.
"We did everything well except in front of our target," Mourinho told Sky Sports afterwards. "We kept missing chances. We could have scored goals in the first or second half."
It's a familiar issue. United's 8.8 per cent shot conversion rate is the third-lowest in the Premier League this season. Only Southampton and Hull have fared worse, and United's conversion rate pales in comparison to the rest of the top six.
Shot conversion (including blocked shots) - Premier League 2016/17
| Team | Shot conversion % | PL rank |
|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | 14.6% | 1st |
| Arsenal | 14.6% | 2nd |
| Liverpool | 13.4% | 4th |
| Manchester City | 12.0% | 6th |
| Tottenham | 11.5% | 8th |
| Manchester United | 8.8% | 18th |
Leaders Chelsea have been the most efficient having converted 14.6 per cent of their shots. It puts them fractionally ahead of Arsenal, while Liverpool and Manchester City aren't far behind.
Even Tottenham, who rank fifth for shot conversion among the top six and eighth overall, are well clear of United on 11.5 per cent.
Even more frustrating for United is their record with clear-cut chances. United's clear-cut chance conversion rate is the lowest in the Premier League at 30.8 per cent, according to Opta.
Big chance conversion - Premier League 2016/17
| Team | Big chance conversion | PL rank |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 58.7% | 2nd |
| Tottenham | 57.1% | 4th |
| Manchester City | 56.3% | 6th |
| Chelsea | 50.0% | 9th |
| Arsenal | 50.0% | 9th |
| Man Utd | 30.8% | 20th |
Liverpool have converted 58.7 per cent of their clear-cut chances, making them the most efficient of the top six, with Tottenham, City, Arsenal and Chelsea also registering conversion rates of 50 per cent or above.
It's a concern for United, who have missed more clear-cut chances (27) than any other Premier League side. If they are to finish the season in the top four, sharpening up their finishing must be a priority