Anthony Gordon: It’s time for the Newcastle striker to perform well in the Premier League

Gordon has often been a top player for Newcastle.

The English striker became only the second player, alongside Leicester City hero Jamie Vardy, to score against Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United in a single Premier League season two seasons ago.

Five of the nine goals he scored for Newcastle in all competitions last year came against Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal.

Perhaps it is no surprise that he has enjoyed life back in the Champions League.

Gordon ranks first in total goals and assists (five), joint third in goals (four) and total big chances (six), and is tied for fourth in fouls committed (eight) among all players in that competition.

From a small sample size, which includes two penalties against Union Saint-Gilloise, his shot conversion rate (50%) and xG (2.73) were higher in the Champions League than in the Premier League this season.

On the other hand, according to Opta, Gordon created significantly more chances in the Premier League (five), completed more dribbles (10), committed more fouls (nine), took more shots (13), and had more touches in the opponent’s penalty area (18).

But he has not yet been able to score or provide an assist, despite participating in two additional matches in the English Premier League.

The England striker is self-aware enough to joke that playing Champions League football domestically would help him.

The same can be said about one or two of his teammates.

Newcastle may have scored eight goals in Europe this season, but only the bottom three teams in the Premier League have managed to score fewer than the Magpies’ seven goals in eight Premier League matches.

Why is this the case? It is confusing to many.

“I don’t have an answer for that. I wish I did,” Gordon said. “I have to take it one game at a time, and approach every game the same way. I don’t know what’s different.”