ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE 2023/24 SEASON ANALYSIS

Taofeeq Kolawole
7 min readJun 25, 2024

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Manchester City’s Kyle Walker and teammates celebrate with the trophy after winning the Premier League. Picture: REUTERS, Molly Darlington || Source: DFA

Introduction

The 2023/24 English Premier League season was full of excitement, with unforgettable moments and amazing achievements. From last-minute goals to new records, the season thrilled fans throughout.

Using Power BI for data analysis, I explored the stats and trends that told the story of this season. Manchester City made history by winning their fourth title in a row, showing their dominance. The race for European spots and the relegation battles added even more drama.

This season saw epic rivalries and new talents like Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer as well as new signings like Kai Havertz and Declan Rice stepping up to deliver quality performance. Manchester City’s control and adaptability were impressive, while Arsenal’s strong performance under Mikel Arteta created an exciting title race.

Join me as we revisit the triumphs, challenges, and memorable moments of the 2023/24 English Premier League season.

Data Collection

To analyze the 2023/24 English Premier League season, I gathered extensive and precise data from the official website of the English Premier League and Wikipedia. These sources offered detailed information on matches, player performances, managers, captains, and stadia. The data collection process involved thorough gathering, cross-referencing, cleaning, and validation to ensure accuracy and consistency. This robust dataset allowed for an in-depth exploration of the season’s intricacies, uncovering fascinating insights and trends that vividly captured the excitement and drama of the most watched league in the world.

Stats Centre || Source: English Premier League website
2023–24 Premier League Season || Source: Wikipedia

Data Preparation

Transforming raw data into valuable insights began with meticulous preparation. Using Microsoft Excel, I organized the data into structured formats before importing it into Power BI for visualization. This process involved several key steps:

  1. Cleaning: I removed duplicates and blanks, addressed missing values, and ensured all data was formatted in tables.
  2. Ensuring Integrity: I eliminated blank rows and duplicates using Excel’s filter function. I also cross-checked team names and details against official competition websites to correct any errors.
  3. Aggregation: I compiled statistics at various levels, such as team and player stats, to facilitate easy and comprehensive analysis.

Data Visualization

To unlock the story within the data, I crafted six compelling dashboards using Power BI, making the information both engaging and accessible. These interactive dashboards comprehensively covered various aspects of the season, revealing team and player performances, significant highlights, and detailed metrics such as goals, assists, shots, clean sheets, and bookings. Dedicated sections allow fans to track their favorite team’s performance easily, providing a dynamic and thorough visualization of the season’s events.

Key Insights

Analysis Overview: Manchester City clinched their fourth consecutive league title, setting a new world record in English top-flight history. With six out of the last seven titles under their belt, Pep Guardiola and his team have solidified their dominance, sparking comparisons to leagues like the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, where Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain have similarly reigned supreme. Despite some critics dubbing the Premier League as the “New farmers league,” this season was a showcase of fierce competition and outstanding performances.

A total of 380 matches were played, producing 1,246 goals at an impressive average of 3.28 goals per game. The intensity on the field also led to 1,660 bookings, averaging 4.37 per match, including 1,602 yellow cards and 58 red cards.

Erling Haaland continued to dazzle, finishing as the league’s top scorer with 27 goals this season, following his record-breaking debut campaign where he scored 36. Ollie Watkins topped the assists chart with 13, while David Raya, on loan from Brentford to Arsenal, secured the Golden Glove with 16 clean sheets, playing a pivotal role in Arsenal’s title pursuit.

Season’s overview

Arsenal and Manchester City dominated the season with the highest win rates, each securing victories in 28 out of 38 matches, boasting an impressive 73.7% success rate. On the opposite end, Sheffield United endured a challenging campaign, registering the most losses with 28 defeats, while Brighton and Hove Albion led in draws with 12 matches ending level.

City and Arsenal also showcased their attacking prowess by topping the goalscoring charts with 96 and 91 goals respectively, demonstrating their clinical finishing abilities throughout the season. In contrast, Sheffield United struggled in front of goal, scoring the fewest with 35 goals at a rate of 0.92 per game, while conceding heavily with 104 goals against, averaging 2.74 per game. Arsenal and City maintained strong defensive records, conceding the least number of goals with 29 and 34 respectively.

Top 5 Teams by Goals scored
Top Teams by Least Goals conceded

Unfortunately, Luton Town, Burnley, and Sheffield United accumulated the fewest points, resulting in their relegation from the top division.

Bottom 3 Teams by Points

Goal Analysis: Liverpool didn’t hold back this season, unleashing a staggering 790 shots in total, averaging an impressive 20.79 shots per game. Their sharpshooters found the target 277 times, boasting a solid 35% shot accuracy. Despite their bombardment, they managed to convert 86 of those shots into goals, achieving a conversion rate of 31%.

Hot on their heels, Manchester City displayed precision with 692 shots, hitting the target 278 times for a remarkable 40.2% shot accuracy. Their goal tally stood at 96, translating to a conversion rate of 34.5%, showcasing their lethal efficiency in front of goal.

Meanwhile, Arsenal showcased their prowess in both accuracy and efficiency. Their 657 shots resulted in 228 on target, boasting a commendable 34.7% shot accuracy. Impressively, they netted 91 goals, leading the league with a conversion rate of 39.9%, demonstrating their clinical finishing.

In contrast, Sheffield United faced challenges in offensive firepower, registering 365 shots and 129 on target throughout the season. Their conversion rate stood at 27.1%, highlighting their struggle to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

Top 5 Teams by Shots
Top 5 Teams by Shots on target

Booking Analysis: Chelsea topped the charts in the Premier League’s disciplinary stakes, accumulating a total of 109 bookings, including 105 yellow cards and 4 red cards. Following closely behind, Wolverhampton Wanderers amassed 100 yellow cards, marking them as one of the league’s toughest competitors in terms of cautions. Aston Villa trailed closely with 99 yellow cards, showcasing their aggressive playing style throughout the season.

Top 5 Teams by Yellow cards

In contrast, Manchester City and Arsenal demonstrated exceptional discipline, receiving the fewest yellow cards among all clubs with 52 and 62 respectively. Their tactical finesse and controlled approach to the game allowed them to maintain composure amidst competitive pressures.

When it comes to red cards, Burnley emerged as the league’s most penalized team with 7 dismissals. Liverpool and Sheffield United closely followed with 5 red cards each. A notable exception to the red card trend was Luton Town, who navigated the entire season without receiving a single red card, showcasing their disciplined and calculated approach to the game.

Top 5 Teams by red cards

Conclusion

The 2023/24 English Premier League season was an exhilarating journey marked by unforgettable moments and significant achievements. From Manchester City’s historic fourth consecutive title to the intense battles for European spots and the dramatic relegation fights, the data illuminated the season’s compelling narratives. This analysis not only highlights the passion and excitement of top-tier football but also celebrates the beautiful game in all its glory. Let the data guide you through a journey that encapsulates the true essence of the beautiful game, where every match, every goal, and every victory tells a story of passion, skill, and sheer determination.

Biggest winners and losers of the 2023–24 Premier League season || Source: PulseSports

Get ready to immerse yourself in the ultimate interactive dashboard! Explore the electrifying data that captures every thrilling moment of this unforgettable season.

You want to interact with the dashboard? Or wish to see how your players performed in terms of goals, assists, clean sheets and bookings, kindly use this link.

Enjoy the full report below.

Thank you for following through on this exciting Data Analytics journey.

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Taofeeq Kolawole

A Data Analyst who is passionate about crafting compelling narratives through data storytelling and visualization using tools like Power BI and Excel.