21 Aug 2026
Premier League goals per game: how to calculate and interpret it
Goals per game shows how many goals are scored in each Premier League match and helps reveal a season’s attacking tempo. The figure should be considered alongside the number of matches, the sample selected and the distribution of scorelines.
What is the goals-per-game average?
The goals-per-game average is the total number of goals scored divided by the number of matches played. If a 10-match round produces 30 goals, the average for that round is 3.0 goals per game. The same calculation applies to an entire season, a club, home matches or fixtures between two teams.
How to calculate it in the Premier League
The Premier League has 20 clubs and 380 matches in a full season. Add up the goals scored by all teams and divide the total by 380. In 2023-24, for example, there were 1,246 goals in 380 matches: 1,246 ÷ 380 = 3.28 goals per game. It was one of the most attacking seasons in the competition’s recent history.
What is the competition’s historical average?
The Premier League usually averages between 2.7 and 2.9 goals per game over a long period. The figure varies from season to season. In 2022-23, the average was around 2.85; in 2023-24, it rose to 3.28. A season averaging more than 3.0 goals per game has more high-scoring matches than the recent historical norm.
Why does the average change from season to season?
Teams’ styles have a direct influence on the total. Sides that press high, attack with plenty of players and accelerate transitions tend to create more shots. The quality of the forwards, managerial changes, defensive injuries and refereeing standards also affect scorelines. A single round can distort the picture, so ideally you should follow at least 10 to 15 matches before drawing conclusions about a season.
How to use the figure when analysing matches
The Premier League’s overall average is a starting point, not a score prediction. To analyse a match, compare the goals scored and conceded by each club, separating home and away fixtures. Also consider recent results, absences and the number of chances created. A league with a high average does not mean every fixture will produce plenty of goals; Liverpool vs Manchester City and a match between teams near the bottom of the table may have very different contexts.
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Analysis: PK Sport · our methodology
Analysis based on public data and market signals. For analysis only — not betting advice.