Premier League Pecking Order- Matchweek 3 (Premier League Season 2020/21- In a Nutshell)
The pecking order is based on the performance of the Premier League teams during Matchweek; in this case, Matchweek 3. It’s not purely based on results. There were 20 teams that played in Matchweek 3. The Premier League Pecking Order starts with the 20th team (worst performed team) on the Pecking Order and the finishes with the 1st team (best performed team) on the Pecking Order.
20- Newcastle United
Newcastle United may have claimed one point; on any other day they would have been obliterated on the scoreboard. They were fortunate that they had Karl Darlow as goalkeeper as they he saved 11 out of 12 shots that Tottenham had on target! Somehow Newcastle United salvaged a 1-all draw!
19- Wolves
Wolves had just two shots on target, despite having 63.1% possession. They were obliterated 4-nil against West Ham United! They need to go back to the drawing board as they did manage to finish seventh in Premier League Season 2019/20.
18- Manchester United
Manchester United would be disappointed with their start to the game. They did manage to score an equaliser close to half time. Somehow, they managed to get back into the contest and win the game. Thanks to good luck they won the game 3-2!
17- Fulham
Fulham had 65% possession and five of their 12 shots on target. Inexcusably they conceded two of the three goals that Aston Villa scored in the opening 15 minutes. In order to stay in the Premier League they will need to improve their performance. Given they aren’t in the bottom three of the Pecking Order in Matchweek 3, that’s a possibility!
16- Burnley
Burnley lost a game where they had just two shots on target in an entire game, despite having more possession than Aston Villa; 53.4% possession to be exact! The only goal that was scored in the game was scored by Southampton, which happened to come from their only shot on target. The goal came in the fifth minute of the game, but Burnley didn’t attack and failed to make any substitutions!
15- Southampton
Southampton won a game that they scored from the only shot that they had on target! They also had less possession than Burnley and had just five shots compared with Burnley’s ten shots.
14- Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace scored from their only shot on target. They had 42.3% possession, which was an improvement on Matchweek 2. They played against a good team; Everton, who are yet to drop a point in their opening three games of the Premier League Season 2020/21. They only lost the game 2-1, but didn’t attack enough after conceding the second goal in the 40th minute!
13- Arsenal
Arsenal had just four shots for the game, despite it being against Liverpool they were completely outplayed. They also had just 34% possession. They did score the first goal of the game and only lost the game 3-1 against last Premier League Seasons champions.
12- West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion had a three goal lead after 35 minutes and went into half time three goals ahead. They scored three goals from the only three shots that they had on target for the match in its entirety!
11- Chelsea
Chelsea came back from a three goal deficit against a West Bromwich Albion team that had lost their first two games of the Premier League 2019/20 Season. Chelsea would have come into this game expecting to have claimed all three points on offer. They may have had ten shots on target and 75.9% possession, but they conceded the first three goals of the game!
10-Sheffield United
Sheffield United played a good style of football, despite losing to Leeds United 1-nil. They managed to have four shots on target and performed admirably. The Leeds United goalkeeper was on top form, saving two goal bound efforts in the first half that changed the game.
9- Manchester City
Manchester City lost a game 5-2 despite having 71.7% possession. They had 16 shots to Leicester City’s seven, with all of Leicester City’s shot’s on target. Three of the shots that Leicester City got on target were from penalty kicks. The score line was deceiving as Manchester City probably didn’t deserve to lose 5-2!
8- Everton
Everton played some good football controlling the balance of play as well as the tempo of the game. They had 57.7% possession against Crystal Palace and five of Everton’s ten shots were on target!
7- Leicester City
Leicester City had just 28.3% yet they won the game against Manchester City 5-2! It shows that they were clinical and what a worthless stat possession can be, on some occasions.
6- Leeds United
Leeds United had 63.7% possession and nine shots on goal. The manner in which they played was extremely impressive. Their goalkeeper, Illan Meslier, did keep them in the game, stopping two shots that should have been goals.
5- Aston Villa
Aston Villa won the game effectively in the first 15 minutes where they score two of their three goals. They had five shots on target to Fulham’s three, despite the fact that Aston Villa had just 35% possession; they were more efficient when they did have possession of the ball and won the game 3-nil!
4- Liverpool
Everything was impressive about the Liverpool performance besides conceding the first goal of the game. After the 25th minute when Arsenal scored the opening goal of the game it was all Liverpool. They responded quickly with Sadio Mane scoring the equaliser for Liverpool in the 28th minute. It was 21 shots for Liverpool to Arsenal’s four shots, which substantiates Liverpool’s dominance.
3- Tottenham
Tottenham had 12 shots on target to Newcastle United’s one, unfortunately that one shot on goal for Newcastle United was a goal from a penalty. Along with controlling the balance of play Tottenham had 65.8% possession, but it was the way in which they used that possession that was impressive. They can consider themselves unlucky that they played against a goalkeeper, Karl Darlow who made 11 saves!
2- West Ham United
West Ham United had a comprehensive win over a Wolves team that finished a respectable seventh Premier League Season 2019/20. The fact that West Ham United still managed to score four goals, despite having only had 36.9% possession showed how efficient they were; they won 4-nil!
1- Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton and Hove Albion hit the post twice and the bar once in the first half. Fortunately, Neal Maupay took an outstanding penalty. They would have been upset to go into the half time break with scores level at 1-all as they were the better team. They managed to score an equaliser in the 94th minute, only for Manchester United to score from the penalty spot with the last kick of the game! They should have won the game comprehensively; it was purely bad luck, but that’s football! They hit the woodwork five times!
Premier League Pecking Order- Matchweek 3 (Premier League Season 2020/21- Final Thoughts)
It was an interesting Matchweek 3 of the Premier League, which was reflected in the Pecking Order. There was a total of 36 goals, which made for entertaining football. It was a Matchweek where a team who won, specifically Manchester United finished 18th, while Brighton and Hove Albion who just lost with the last kick of the game to Manchester United finished 1st. That’s what makes the Pecking Order so unique!