How Palmer, Saka and Isak have helped in making Premier League history

Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka and Alexander Isak have been perfect from penalties this season (Imago/Pro Sports Images/Colorsport)

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Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka and Alexander Isak have been perfect from penalties this season (Imago/Pro Sports Images/Colorsport)

How Palmer, Saka and Isak have helped in making Premier League history

Seye Omidiora 07:42 - 04.05.2024

The three attacking players have scored more penalties than anyone else in this season witnessing more success from 12 yards than previous campaigns.

Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka and Alexander Isak have been without blemish from 12 yards in the 2023-24 Premier League season. 

Palmer, Saka and Isak have been perfect from 12 yards

The Chelsea man has netted all nine penalties for Mauricio Pochettino’s men, Saka has converted five from five and Isak has done likewise, scoring five times from 12 yards. 

While more than three players have a 100% success rate from penalties in the Premier League this season, the trio have converted the most heading into gameweek 35. 

Palmer is significantly clear of the field, scoring nine of Chelsea's 12 penalties won this term. The Blues' only miss came in gameweek two against West Ham United, with Enzo Fernandez thwarted by Alphonse Areola in the 2-1 loss at the London Stadium. 

Cole Palmer has scored all nine Premier League penalties for Chelsea in 2023-24
Cole Palmer has been reliable for Chelsea from penalties (Imago/PA Images)

Fernandez (against Brighton) scored from 12 yards in December and the Blues’ other penalty not taken by Palmer was converted by Noni Madueke against Crystal Palace before the turn of the year. 

Arsenal have not had as many penalties as Chelsea, but the Gunners have scored their kicks. Saka has netted five, Martin Odegaard (two) and the pair of Kai Havertz and Fabio Vieira have notched one each for the North London side. 

Isak has also thrived from 12 yards in 23-24, scoring five times, with Newcastle United also converting every kick. Callum Wilson (two) and Anthony Gordon have netted the Magpies' other three spot-kicks this term.

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Also perfect from penalties in the Premier League this term are Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Carlton Morris (Luton) and Joao Pedro (Brighton), who have netted all four of their spot-kicks; Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) has scored three penalties from as many attempts.

Odegaard leads a surfeit of players to have converted two spot-kicks, a list that comprises Heung-min Son (Tottenham Hotspur), West Ham's James Ward-Prowse and Lucas Paqueta and Willian (Fulham). 

Much-maligned Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has found the back of the net on both occasions he has stepped up from 12 yards.

Marcus Rashford converted a penalty against Everton at Goodison Park in November 2023
Marcus Rashford scored a penalty against Everton in November 2023 (Imago/PA Images)

Premier League players have consistently held their nerve from penalties

According to Opta, the 2023-24 season has seen more success from spot-kicks than previous campaigns in the competition’s history. 

This term has seen 91% of penalties beating the opposition goalkeepers, with only nine kicks from eight players failing to score from 12 yards. 

Mohamed Salah has twice failed to dispatch penalties, against Bournemouth on matchday two and in a gameweek 20 clash with Newcastle.

Teammate Darwin Nunez hit the post from the spot against Chelsea in round 22. Those misses were not costly as Jurgen Klopp's side ultimately ran out winners. 

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah had a penalty saved by Martin Dubravka when Newcastle United visited Anfield
Mohamed Salah missed a penalty against Newcastle (Imago/Colorsport)

Also unsuccessful from the spot have been Fernandez, Erling Haaland (against Sheffield United in round three), Bruno Fernandes in Manchester United's victory over Chelsea in gameweek 15, Said Benrahma in West Ham's stunning 2-0 win at Arsenal, Beto in Everton's home loss to West Ham in matchday 27 and Dominic Solanke's unsuccessful kick against Sheffield in the following gameweek.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin beating Luton's Thomas Kaminski from 12 yards on Friday night means Solanke's failure against the Blades in gameweek 28 is the last time a player did not convert from the penalty spot, underscoring this year's success in such situations.

Will this weekend continue the extended run without a penalty miss in this season that has seen a higher success rate from spot kicks than in previous years?