The proportion of shots on target that a goalkeeper saves — a basic measure of goalkeeping performance, but noisy over small samples.
Save percentage (also called save rate) is the number of saves a goalkeeper makes divided by the total shots on target they faced, expressed as a percentage. A goalkeeper who faces 100 shots on target and saves 72 has a 72% save percentage. The Premier League average is typically 68–72%, varying by season and the quality of goalkeepers across the division.
Save percentage is the most basic goalkeeper performance metric but has significant limitations as a standalone statistic. A goalkeeper facing only long-range, low-quality shots can maintain a very high save percentage — the metric does not control for shot difficulty. Two goalkeepers can face the same 100 shots on target at very different expected quality levels.
Post-Shot Expected Goals (PSxG) addresses the save percentage limitation by measuring the quality of shots faced after they have been struck — accounting for the placement, power, and trajectory of the shot, not just the xG at the moment of the attempt. A goalkeeper who faces shots with a combined PSxG of 40 but concedes only 30 has prevented 10 goals above expectation.
Goals Prevented (actual goals conceded minus PSxG conceded) is the most sophisticated goalkeeper quality metric available. Positive values indicate outperformance; negative values indicate underperformance. Over large samples (2+ seasons), Goals Prevented stabilises into a reliable indicator of goalkeeper skill.
Goalkeepers on a very high save percentage run are often performing above their PSxG expectation — likely to revert toward the mean, making Under and BTTS No bets on their team more risky than the recent clean sheet record suggests. Conversely, goalkeepers on a poor save percentage run relative to PSxG are often unlucky and are likely to regress to expected performance.
For fantasy football, PSxG per shot faced is the cleanest indicator of whether a goalkeeper is likely to maintain their clean sheet rate. A high save percentage supported by good PSxG data is sustainable; a high save percentage built on low-quality shots is fragile.
xGA (Expected Goals Against)
The expected goals conceded by a team — a measure of defensive quality based on the quality of chances allowed, not just goals shipped.
xG (Expected Goals)
A metric that scores every shot by its probability of resulting in a goal, based on factors like shot location, angle, and assist type.
Clean Sheet
When a team concedes no goals in a match — a key metric for defenders and goalkeepers in fantasy football and defensive analysis.
BTTS (Both Teams to Score)
A betting market that pays out if both teams score at least one goal in the match, regardless of the final result.
Shots on Target
Attempts that require a save or result in a goal, excluding blocked shots and shots that miss the frame.
For informational and educational purposes only. Disclaimer
