Premier League Pecking Order - Matchweek 12 (Premier League Season 2020-21)

Premier League Pecking Order- Matchweek 12 (Premier League Season 2020/21- In a Nutshell)

The pecking order is based on the performance of the Premier League teams during the given Matchweek; on this occasion, it’s Matchweek 12. No one had the week off, which meant all 20 Premier League teams featured. The Premier League Pecking Order starts with the 20^th team (worst performed team) on the Pecking Order and finishes with the 1^st team (best performed team) on the Pecking Order.

20- Sheffield United

Sheffield United only had a short spell of the game where they appeared to have belief. The rest of the game they appeared to lack confidence. It’s tough to decipher what the problem was; was it the Coach or the lack of quality amongst players. At the end of the day something needs to change drastically for Sheffield United to avoid relegation this Season. The Premier League is arguably the toughest football league in the world. They finished 9^th last Season; it’s hard to fathom what has changed, but it better change, quick smart!

19- Brighton and Hove Albion

Brighton and Hove Albion put in a performance much the same as usual. They played some decent football early, but they lacked quality in the final 3^rd. They failed to take their chances, early in the match, but they were losing 3-nil at half time! They could have lost by more than three goals if not for their goalkeeper Matthew Ryan making some saves. The fact that they had four shots on target is a negative, because they just don’t score when required. This was a loss, which was comprehensive and deserved.

18- Burnley

Burnley won a tough match, because they have a quality goalkeeper. It’s as simple as that. Despite Arsenal going down to ten men, Burnley deserved to lose the match, but they won! They finished with just two shots on target and had just 35.3% possession. They only scored due to an own goal from Arsenal Captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 73^rd minute.

17- Everton

Everton managed to claim all three points in a match where they had just 28% possession. It was a disappointing performance by Everton. That’s despite the fact that had four shots on target to Chelsea’s three. If Chelsea had taken their chances then it would have been a whole different story from an Everton perspective. Winning isn’t everything. The match came down to Gylfi Sigurdsson showing some composure from the penalty spot in the 22^nd minute. If not for that Everton would have deservedly dropped points.

16- Aston Villa

Aston Villa didn’t look like scoring until the 2^nd half stoppage time. That’s when they scored the only goal of the game. It was a fortunate win for Aston Villa over Wolves, 1-nil. The fact that Aston Villa’s goalkeeper, Emiliano Martínez, was the difference between the two teams says it all. They were outplayed from the perspective of the balance of play.

15- Leeds United

Leeds United would be disappointed that they lost a match they would have viewed as winnable, against West Ham. Unfortunately for Leeds United they threw away a golden opportunity to take at least a point. They were winning 1-nil after six minutes when they scored a goal through a penalty. After that they conceded two goals and failed to score, themselves. It could have been more than a 2-1 loss, if not for the good work of their goalkeeper, Illan Meslier.

14- Manchester City

Manchester City played a poor match as they never looked like they were at the races. The biggest concern for them would be that they played a poor brand of football. They did so in a game that they should have been well prepared for; a Manchester Derby. They may have finished with slightly more possession than their opposition, but they never looked like scoring.

13- West Brom

West Brom played a decent game, but they weren’t at the standard that Newcastle United were at. The fact that they lost, didn’t reflect the manner in which West Brom played. They conceded the fastest opening goal of the season after 22 seconds when Miguel Almiron scored for Newcastle United. There was definitely a difference in the gulf of class between the two teams. The manner in which West Brom fought their way back was impressive. It meant there’s light at the end of the tunnel, as they only lost the game late on, 2-1.

12- Arsenal

Arsenal played a fairly good match from a statistical perspective, but they didn’t score or claim a point. It would be disappointing for them, as they finished the game six shots on target and had 64.7% possession. They had to play with ten men for the majority of the 2^nd half with Granit Xhaka sent off. It didn’t really impact the result. Arsenal showed resilience, but had nothing to take from the match in terms of points.

11- West Ham

West Ham should have won the game against Leeds United by more. That would have occurred if not for the solid display of Leeds United goalkeeper, Illan Meslier. He made many crucial saves that gave his team a chance of getting something out of the match. Although, West Ham played some good football after going down 1-nil, early in the game. Despite the fact that they had 36% possession, West Ham were the better team.

10- Newcastle United

Newcastle United played some good football. They could have scored more than two goals if not for the goalkeeper of West Brom, Sam Johnstone. The match was played at a reasonable tempo.

9- Chelsea

Chelsea played decent football against Everton. The fact that Chelsea had 72% possession tells the story. They have a lot of positives to take from this match. They controlled the balance of play and lost the game somewhat, unjustly. It’s an opportunity for Chelsea Coach Frank Lampard to make alterations in their next match. They kept their defensive structure on the whole and played some decent football.

8- Manchester United

Manchester United played one of their best matches of the Premier League Season. That’s despite the fact that they failed to score. They played as a unit that was playing for their Coach and stuck to their structure. The system implemented by them clearly worked. The only thing missing from their performance was the three points. Defensively they were extremely strong and were the better of the two teams in the Manchester Derby.

7- Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace have their goalkeeper, Vicente Guaita to blame for conceding a goal. On the other hand he helped them draw the game. It was a match where Crystal Palace could argue that they deserved the point, with the final result 1-all. The game was played at a high tempo. They never gave up and Jeffrey Schlupp scored the equaliser in the 81^st minute. That’s football; you need to take your chances and Crystal Palace grabbed what could be a crucial point. They now sit just one point outside the top ten.

6- Southampton

Southampton played effortlessly against Sheffield United. They could have won the game by more than three goals, with the final score 3-nil. It was difficult to work out whether they were so much better than their opposition. It could have been that they were better coached than their opposition or the players were just better. Put simply, Southampton did what they had to do to claim the three points, comfortably in the end.

5- Tottenham

Tottenham played a quality game of football as they had six shots on target and 57.1% possession. They were vulnerable defensively and did concede a late equaliser. They offered a lot going forward and utilised arguably the two best attacking weapons in the Premier League. Those two players are obviously Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min. There was no surprise that they were both involved in the goal Tottenham scored. The assist was provided by Son Heung-Min and the goal was scored by Harry Kane.

4- Liverpool

Liverpool were shell shocked early as Fulham controlled the balance of play. Fulham were rewarded in the 25^th minute when they broke the deadlock, deservedly. The fact that Liverpool had 75.1% possession showed how misleading stats can be in football. They did have six shots on target to Fulham’s five. One of those six shots, was a penalty from Mohamed Salah. The goal scored by Salah was a fortunate one as it was saveable. At the end of the day, the game was played a high tempo. Liverpool would feel they deserved a point; based on stats.

3- Wolves

Wolves played good football on the whole, against Aston Villa. The fact that Wolves had 50.5% possession and seven shots on target substantiates that. They deserved to get at least a point out of the match. In football, you don’t always get what you deserve. The only goal scored in the match was at the very end of it. There’s an opportunity for Wolves to use their performance in Matchweek 12 as a template. The result shouldn’t be relevant as there are plenty of positives for Wolves to take from the match.

2- Leicester City

Leicester City won a game they would have expected to win comprehensively and they did. They played some quality football. Their goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel did make a brilliant save when the score was nil-all. The save came from a shot by Danny Welbeck in the 9^th minute. Leicester City took their opportunities scoring three goals from their six shots on target.

1- Fulham

Fulham played some exquisite football against last Season’s Champions, Liverpool. It was a case of a valuable point for Liverpool. Prior to the match, a draw would have been considered two points dropped! It’s fair to say that Scott Parker outcoached arguably the best Coach in the world, in Jurgen Klopp. That’s in relation to Fulham’s quality display in the 1^st half. When taking into account that Fulham could have won the game had they taken their chances, they’d be disappointed.