Premier League Pecking Order- Matchweek 5 (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 5. It’s not only centred around results. There were 20 teams that played in Matchweek 5. 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- Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace finished the game with just one shot that was a penalty kick that gave them a 1-nil lead in the 19th minute, undeservedly. Instead of endeavouring to build on that lead they stood still. Everything was focused on how they could stay defensive and not concede a goal. They self destructed and conceded a deserved equaliser in the 90th minute and can consider themselves lucky to have claimed a point. For the second Matchweek in a row Crystal Palace have finished last on the Pecking Order!
19- Arsenal
Arsenal would look back at Matchweek 5 with a feeling of regret. They had just three shots on target and 41.5% possession. Their system didn’t stack up against Manchester City’s.
18- Newcastle United
Newcastle United had just 36.4% possession with a total of four shots on target from a total of seven shots. They led from the 2nd minute due to a Luke Shaw own goal until the 23rd minute when Manchester United equalised. The score was 1-all until the 86th minute thanks to Manchester United’s class shining through.
17- Tottenham
Tottenham managed to score three goals early in the game. They may have had a total of six shots on target to West Ham’s four, but they were deplorable late in the game. Letting three goals in late in the game is inexcusable for Tottenham.
16- Chelsea
Chelsea failed to collect all three points, despite leading the game 2-nil up until late in the 1st half. They had 53.4% possession, but Southampton had six shots on target to Chelsea’s five. In a nutshell, Chelsea were fantastic from an attacking perspective, but deplorable defensively!
15- Burnley
Burnley may have not had the better of the game and hung on for a draw, they still managed to have four shots on target. There are no easy games in the Premier League and Matchweek 5 was indicative of that with six draws in the ten games that were played! They had their opportunities hitting the woodwork on a couple of occasion in what was a surprisingly exciting scoreless draw against newly promoted West Bromwich Albion.
14- Wolves
Even though they claimed all three points, Leeds United were the better team. The fact that Wolves had less than one third of the total possession is an indicator that they were outplayed. They played against a top class team, in Leeds United, with a quality Manager. Despite all of that Wolves scored the only goal of the game.
13- West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion were the better of the two teams. They were more effective in an attacking sense with six shots on target to Burnley’s four. The only part missing was the three points.
12- Leeds United
Leeds United played some good football. They deserved to get something out of the game as far as points were concerned. With more than two thirds of possession; they dominated the game. It was a clear indication that they controlled the game, but left the game empty handed; that’s life and football.
11- Aston Villa
Aston Villa haven’t dropped a point all Premier League Season 2020/21. They didn’t play to their optimum level yet they won the game. They allowed Leicester City to control parts of the game and were fortunate that they had an outstanding goalkeeper and that they scored a good goal late in the game. They may have not played to their best, but they did enough to have claimed a win.
10- Leicester City
Leicester City lost the game due to a fantastic goal scored by Ross Barkley of Aston Villa in 2nd half stoppage time. Interestingly, Leicester City had 50.5% possession, but they managed to control the tempo of the game. They lost the game partly due to Aston Villa’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez having an outstanding game.
9- West Ham
West Ham showed plenty of resilience and character. They conceded three goals in the opening 16 minutes. They stayed in the game, somehow and managed to score three goals in the last 12 minutes of football. They managed to have 13 shots compared to Tottenham’s 11.
8- Sheffield United
Sheffield United managed to claim a point in a game that they were probably outplayed in. The possession stat summed up Fulham’s control of the game with Sheffield United finishing with 41.5%.
7- Fulham
Fulham played a good style, despite sharing the points with Sheffield United. There was a missed penalty in the 2nd half, which Fulham would be regretting. They had a total of 58.5% and should’ve claimed all three points. Above all else they played a good style of football.
6- Manchester United
Manchester United’s class shown through, in the end, eventually. They trailed for longer than they were in the lead as they trailed for 21 minutes and led for approximately ten minutes. Despite the fact that Newcastle United had seven shots, Manchester United finished with 28 shots, exactly half of which were on target. They controlled possession with 63.6% possession.
5- Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton and Hove Albion controlled the tempo of a game that they deserved to get all three points in. They had three shots on target from a total of 20 shots to Crystal Palace’s one! Part of Brighton and Hove Albion’s dominance of the game can be attributed to them having 65.7%.
4- Manchester City
Manchester City played a reasonable style of football, as they finished with five shots on target and 58.5% possession. They were simply too good for Arsenal; it was a well deserved three points for Manchester City.
3- Southampton
Southampton showed a lot of resolve and were impressive from a game plan perspective. They had more shots and shots on target. That’s the case even though they had 46.6% possession. It was a well deserved point they took away from Stamford Bridge.
2- Everton
Everton would be upset that they let Liverpool control the tempo of the game. Despite the fact that Everton shared the points with Liverpool, it doesn’t matter. Even though Everton lost their Captain Seamus Coleman to injury in the 31st minute, they should’ve been more attacking.
1- Liverpool
Liverpool had the majority of the ball as they had 58.1% possession. They had eight shots on target from their 22 shots. They’d be disappointed that they didn’t claim all three points.
Premier League Pecking Order- Matchweek 5 (Premier League Season 2020/21- Final Thoughts)
It was an entertaining Matchweek 5 of the Premier League, which can be substantiated by the Pecking Order. There were plenty of unpredictable results. There was 21 of the 28 goals scored in four out of the ten games! That sums the Matchweek; it was probably the most difficult Matchweek in the Premier League Season 2020/21 to formulate a Pecking Order. There was a mixture of clinical finishing, great goalkeeping, which made it a challenging task to rank the 20 teams based on their performances!