Premier League Pecking Order - Matchweek 9 (Premier League Season 2020-21)

Premier League Pecking Order- Matchweek 9 (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 9. 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- Fulham

Fulham were their own worst enemies; they gifted Everton a goal in the opening minute. Then, Fulham, did show character to score the equaliser in the 15^th minute. For the remainder of the 1^st half, Everton were the better team, as they were clinical, which meant that Fulham went in trailing 3-1, at half time. They did improve in the 2^nd half and were somewhat unlucky not to get anything out of the game, losing 3-2, but in the end their defensive frailties cost them.

19- Leicester City

Leicester City could consider themselves lucky in one sense that they didn’t concede more goals, but on the other hand, unlucky not to score. They finished with four shots on target from 11 attempts. If they weren’t playing Liverpool who played some exhilarating football, they may have been last in the Pecking Order for Matchweek 9. Another reason why they only lost 3-nil was due to Kasper Schmeichel being on top form, as Liverpool had 13 shots on target!

18- Everton

Everton have plenty of work to do based on the manner in which they played in Matchweek 9. They were winning 3-1 at half time, but invited Fulham to get at least a point out of the game. Their attacking forays were mostly due to Fulham giving away cheap turnovers. As they conceded a penalty that Fulham missed, Everton can count their lucky stars that they claimed all three points.

17- Tottenham

Tottenham didn’t play great football, but they won 2-nil against Manchester City, but again that’s football. The fact that Tottenham had just 33.9% possession and Manchester City had 22 shots to Tottenham’s four sums up that Manchester City weren’t clinical enough. It was an undeserved 2-nil win for Tottenham!

16- Southampton

Southampton were fortunate that they claimed a draw in a tough game against Wolves. The fact that Southampton were outplayed by their opposition from a statistical perspective, would be cause for concern, on the one hand. Despite that, they managed to have 54.7% possession, which indicated that there were periods that Southampton controlled the game. They did score the opening goal of the game and showed character to claim a draw. Their review of the game should focus on improving defensively, as they relied on their goalkeeper, Alex McCarthy to get them a point to some extent.

15- Arsenal

Arsenal were extremely disappointing with just two shots on target from nine attempts. It’s understandable and admirable that they defended well enough to keep a clean sheet, given the fact they had just ten men on the field for the majority of the 2^nd half, which changed everything. What that meant was that they just 33.7% possession and were forced to defend resolutely against arguably one of the Premier League’s teams that isn’t afraid to attack; Leeds United.

14- West Brom

West Brom had just two shots on target to Manchester United’s seven. Despite the fact that they played good football at times, West Brom probably deserved to get nothing out of the game, in terms of points based on statistics. Despite that Sam Johnstone made a superb save from a Bruno Fernandes penalty in the 54^th, but it was overturned due to Johnstone encroaching over the line. Unfortunately for West Brom, Bruno Fernandes scored from the next opportunity from the penalty spot. Callum Robinson hit the cross bar in the 65^th minute, but that’s football.

13- West Ham

West Ham allowed Sheffield United to control the game in the 1^st half. The fact that West Ham had just three of their 15 attempts on target clearly showed that they need to work on being more clinical in the final third. There is plenty of work for West Ham to do, but they didn’t enough to claim all three points against a Sheffield United team that played some decent football, despite being last on the Premier League Table.

12- Sheffield United

Sheffield United did a lot of things right, even though they lost to West Ham 1-nil. The fact that Sheffield United finished with five shots on target to their opponents three and had more possession than them makes it clear that they were unlucky not to have taken at least a point from the game. Above all else, they weren’t clinical enough, even though that can partly be attributed to West Ham’s goalkeeper, Łukasz Fabiański being on top form.

11- Newcastle United

Newcastle United had just one shot on target from eight shots. They had their chances to get something out of the game, against Chelsea. Despite having 28.9% possession, Newcastle United could have got something out of the game Sean Longstaff’s shot that hit the cross bar, gone in the back of the net in the 72^nd minute. They played well in the 2^nd half after a relatively poor 1^st half.

10- Brighton and Hove Albion

Brighton and Hove Albion didn’t perform to their optimum level, but they claimed all three points. It doesn’t make sense; when they have played well this Premier League Season they have been left empty handed, however, in a game where it could be argued Aston Villa deserved at least a point, Brighton and Hove Albion won the game! It was arguably the best game in Matchweek 9 as the tempo was high.

9- Chelsea

Chelsea played some decent football in the first half, but that’s it. Nothing much changed tactically when Newcastle United started to gain the ascendancy in the 2^nd half. The fact that Sean Longstaff hit the bar in the 72^nd minute means that Chelsea can count themselves lucky that they claimed all three points. Given they should have been up at least 2-nil in the opening 20 minutes shows that Chelsea need to be better.

8- Manchester United

Manchester United faced a tricky game against West Brom was to be expected; every game in the Premier League is tough. The fact that Sam Johnstone, the West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper was on top form was the main reason why Manchester United only won 1-nil. Given that Callum Robinson hit the cross bar means that Manchester United can thank their lucky stars they won. They did finish the game with seven shots but more clinical finishing is what’s required for the Red Devils if they are to finish in the top half of the Premier League table.

7- Leeds United

Leeds United controlled the majority of the game against Arsenal. The fact that Leeds United had 66.3% possession substantiates that. Unfortunately, they weren’t clinical enough, as they finished the game with just four shots on target from 25 attempts. The positive is that their general play was good enough to create plenty of chances, however, they were up against a team that was down to ten men in the 51^st minute. That meant Leeds United should have scored.

6- Burnley

Burnley scored the only goal of the game in the 8^th minute. They managed to have four shots on target from ten attempts. The fact that they claimed all three points would be extremely pleasing to them, as it was their 1^st win of the Premier League Season! The game was a tightly fought contest, which they showed plenty of character to win the game. Given that they had 46.1% possession, indicated that they didn’t just sit back and defend.

5- Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace lost a game that they could have got at least a point out of. The fact that Nick Pope was probably the man of the match, as the Burnley goalkeeper made five saves, sums up the game in simple terms. The game was an extremely tightly fought contest so, as Crystal Palace had five shots on target to Burnley’s four, one of which was a goal and that Crystal Palace had more possession, summed up that Crystal Palace deserved at least a point.

4- Aston Villa

Aston Villa played at a high intensity, particularly in the 2^nd half, controlling the tempo of the game. They had 55.4% possession, but they were constructive with it. They fought back from a one goal deficit to equalise early in the 2^nd half, which showed character. Based on their performance in Matchweek 9, they should be aiming for at least a top six finish.

3- Manchester City

Manchester City were the better team against Tottenham. The fact that Manchester City had 66.1% possession and five shots on target from 22 shots. What that meant is that it’s bewildering that they didn’t get at least a goal and a point out of a game where they thoroughly deserved something out of, but that’s football!

2- Wolves

Wolves deserved all three points against Southampton. Despite the fact that Wolves had less possession than their opponents they finished with nine shots on target to Southampton’s two! In all, Wolves had 20 shots, which showed that 1-all was probably an unjust result as they completely dominated the game. What would be pleasing was the character that they displayed to come back from a one goal deficit and make the score 1-all in the 75^th minute. It was a game that they will take plenty of positives out of.

1- Liverpool

Liverpool played some scintillating football so it was no brainer to rank them 1^st on the Pecking Order in Matchweek 9. They didn’t dominate the game from a possession perspective 56.4%, but managed to have 13 shots on target from 24 attempts. They still allowed Leicester City to have four shots on target from 11 shots, so even the best have something to work on!