Revealed: Tottenham and West Ham among Europe's most error prone teams

In what was arguably the biggest game of the weekend in the Premier League, it was an individual error that perhaps put the result beyond doubt. Liverpool, aiming to pick up their first league win of the calendar year, faced a Tottenham side with the fewest defeats of the season. The Reds set about putting right the wrongs of the weeks beforehand by getting on top of their visitors from the outset, quicker to every ball before Georgina Wijnaldum slipped Sadio Mane through on goal for the opener.

Minutes later the Senegalese forward chased down Eric Dier, who dallied and surrendered possession, which eventually led to Mane’s second of the game and ultimately put the encounter to bed early on. Dier’s mistake was actually one of many from Spurs this season though, as WhoScored.com reveal a surprising top 10 as far as error prone sides are concerned in Europe’s top 5 leagues.

10. Hamburg

Having flirted with relegation for years, former German powerhouse Hamburg will be hoping an upturn in performances and results of late will spark a more comfortable finish in the Bundesliga this season. Having failed to win any of their opening 12 games of the season, HSV looked doomed, plagued by individual errors that seemed certain to finally see them drop out of the top-flight. Only one team in Europe’s top five leagues had committed more errors leading to an opposition shot in that time, with seven of 13 leading to goals. In the eight games that have followed, however, Hamburg have won five games and committed just two errors by comparison, but with 15 in total they still make the top 10.

9. West Ham

Were it not for some calamitous defending this season, West Ham’s start to their first season at the London Stadium might not have been so disappointing. They’ve committed 15 errors that have led to opposition shots - tied with Hamburg - with Aaron Cresswell the most guilty culprit, accounting for four. They come in in ninth, however, by virtue of the fact that one more of those shots ended up in their net. Indeed, a total of nine individual mistakes leading to a goal is the most in Europe’s top 5 leagues.

8. Swansea

It’s little shock to see Swansea on this list given the number of goals that they have leaked this season, with 54 at least five more than any other Premier League side. While only a relatively modest five of those have been down to individual mistakes, the Swans have committed 16 that have resulted in opposition shots. More encouragingly for the Welsh outfit, just three have come since Paul Clement’s appointment at the turn of the year.

7. Lyon

It’s been a very hit and miss season for Lyon, who have won over half of their league matches but, having drawn just once, have lost as many times as 14th placed Dijon (10). Their inconsistency has in part been down to a lack of concentration, with a tally of 17 errors leading to opposition shots representing a joint high in Ligue 1. OL are fortunate, then, that just two have been converted, with young defenders Emanuel Mammana and Mounter Diakhaby the men punished.

6. Werder Bremen

Firmly entrenched in a relegation battle, it isn’t hard to pinpoint where Werder Bremen’s issues lie. A tally of 24 goals, while modest, is just one fewer than third placed Frankfurt. A total of 42 conceded, however, is the most in the Bundesliga. The defending has been shambolic at times, and while they’ve only been punished on three occasions, a total of 17 errors leading to opposition shots - shared across 12 players - is a reflection of that.

5. Tottenham

Eric Dier may have been the guilty party at the weekend, but in truth errors have been prominent in Tottenham’s season, despite the majority going unpunished. Dier’s is one of just four to have led to a goal, including two in a game to forget against Manchester City for Hugo Lloris, but the pair are by no means alone in their mishaps. A tally of 17 errors leading to a shot is the most in the Premier League, spread across seven players, with captain Lloris responsible for an eye catching six.

4. Nice

There’s no denying that Nice have enjoyed a fantastic season, despite a slump that has seen them perhaps predictably drop to third in Ligue 1. Their success has been built on a solid defensive record, conceding just 20 goals, though it could have been better were it not for individual mistakes. Identical to Tottenham, who are also third in their league, the Eaglets have committed 17 individual errors and seen 4 of those punished.

3. Montpellier

Just ahead of Nice in terms of the most error prone sides in France is Montpellier, who too have committed 17 but seen six find the back of their net by comparison. La Paillade have been consistently inconsistent, never winning back-to-back games and only once falling to defeat twice in a row. The mistakes have certainly played a part in the former, and have been spread throughout the team, with no fewer than ten players guilty of at least one.

2. Bayer Leverkusen

They may be preparing for a Champions League round of 16 tie with Atletico but it’s been a bitterly disappointing domestic campaign for B04. An impressive 3-0 win over Frankfurt last time out may have eased the pressure on Roger Schmidt a little but the manager will need his players to stop committing costly errors if he is to keep his job and steer the club up the table from their current 9th placed standing. Only one side in Europe has committed more errors leading to shots (19), with young centre-back Jonathan Tah not only Leverkusen’s worst offender, with 5, but the joint worst outfielder in Europe’s top 5 leagues in that regard.

1. Fiorentina

Out on their as the most error prone side in Europe, Fiorentina have committed 20 that have led to an opposition effort at goal thus far this season. With the Viola down in eighth but just five points off of a top four finish, lapses in concentration have been costly for Paulo Sousa’s men. While both Carlos Sanchez and Davide Astori have committed three errors leading to opposition shots, with one punished apiece, keeper Ciprian Tatarusanu has committed five, two of which have seen the Romanian concede.