The Analyst: Chelsea’s Jorginho still the penalty king but which players are threatening his reign?

Across 160 matches, there have been 41 penalties, one in every four games, with 85% of them proving successful.

Jorginho a class above from the spot

Chelsea's Italian midfield maestro Jorginho has built up a well-earned reputation as a penalty specialist and netted twice more from the spot in his team's 3-2 win against Leeds United, a game that would be dominated by penalty controversy.

His two goals were his third and fourth penalties of the season - his only source of Premier League goals this campaign.

His first successful penalty of the season against Newcastle brought with it the record of having scored 10 consecutive goals from the penalty spot. He has since gone on to extend the record to 13 and is undoubtedly the Premier League's penalty king.

There are a number of players who occupy joint-second in the penalty standings, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Mo Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo, with the latter two notching from the spot at the weekend.

The Blues are hot from the spot

Jorginho's Chelsea also lead the way when it comes to penalties awarded. Thomas Tuchel's side have 38 goals from 16 games, with five of those coming from 12 yards.

Mason Mount dispatched the Blues' first of the season, with regular taker Jorginho off the pitch, in their 7-0 win over Norwich.

Six teams occupy joint-second in the penalties awarded standings with Brentford, Leeds, Brighton and Everton having a 100% success rate during the 2021/22 season.

The other two clubs to have won three penalties, West Ham and Manchester United, have not enjoyed the same luck from the spot.

David Moyes' Hammers have had three takers for the three penalties, with only Manuel Lanzini tasting success. Regular taker Mark Noble was brought on to take a penalty against Manchester United, but David de Gea was equal to the West Ham player's effort. Club top scorer Michail Antonio has also been thwarted from the spot this campaign, by Newcastle goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.

As we approach the busy festive period, Burnley and Wolves are the only top-flight teams yet to have been awarded a penalty kick this season.

De Gea and Martinez: penalty spot stoppers

Manchester United's David de Gea and Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez are the keepers who have stood tallest in 2021/22.

De Gea has kept out two of the three spot-kicks he has faced, saving from West Ham's Mark Noble on Matchday 5 and repeating the feat against Watford's Ismaila Sarr in November.

Villa's Argentina international Martinez has saved one penalty this season and also seen one fly over his crossbar, Man United's Bruno Fernandes the guilty party.

Of the 41 spot-kicks awarded, 85% have been dispatched, showing that the takers very much hold the upper hand. The only other goalkeepers aside from De Gea and Martinez to have saved from the spot are Ben Foster (Watford) and Woodman.

Foster denied Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from 12 yards at the Emirates. It was Aubameyang's second penalty miss in the space of a few weeks after Martinez had denied him from the spot. He remains the only player with two failures on his record.

Toon Army leaking penalties

Newcastle United gave away their sixth penalty of the Premier League season last weekend when Jamal Lascelles brought down Leicester's James Maddison. Youri Tielemans extended his impeccable penalty record to put his team 1-0 up before half-time. It didn't get any better for Eddie Howe's struggling team after the break as they went on to lose 4-0.

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool team are one of four clubs yet to concede a penalty along with West Ham, Southampton and Burnley.

It means the Clarets have neither been awarded or conceded a penalty in their 15 games this season. Considering the rise in penalties being awarded due to VAR, they will do well to keep it that way until the end of the campaign.

READ MORE: Nations League 2022/23: England could be joined in Group of Death by France, Germany and Wales