top of page
Search
Writer's pictureMax Martin

A look at the start of this weird and wonderful 2020/21 Premier League season.

As the first international break of the new season brings everyone's heart rates back down after the thrilling entertainment that has been put on show in the premier league so far this season, I take a look at who's performing well and what teams are leaving their managers scratching their heads and edging towards the exit door.


Jordan Ayew of Crystal Palace against Chelsea (Credit: CPFC.co.uk).

The Premier League never fails to excite and the start to this season has been no different,

there has been a crazy 144 goals in the 38 games that have been played so far, that works out to an average of 3.79 goals per game. In the 2019/20 season, there was an average of 2.72 goals per game.


Some football experts have suggested that the lack of a proper pre-season for many of the teams may be at fault for the defensive frailties being shown. West Brom have shipped the most goals in the league so far, conceding 13 in just four games, whilst Everton, Leicester and Tottenham are the highest scoring teams with each of them scoring 12 goals after matchweek four respectively.


Despite not even being a month into the new season, the fans watching from home have already witnessed a number of unbelievable games including some massive shocks.


Chelsea were forced to work hard by newly promoted West Brom when they rescued a 3-3 draw at the Hawthorns after trailing 3-0 at halftime, a day later Leicester beat Manchester City 5-2 away from home with the help of a Jamie Vardy hat-trick.


However, the craziest day of the season so far happened on Sunday 5 October when Manchester United got thrashed by Jose Mourinho's Tottenham 6-1 at home and then a couple of hours later Aston Villa, who stayed in the top flight by just one point last season, astonishingly beat champions Liverpool 7-2 (yes, you read that right).

Even the Villa players couldn't believe the scoreline (Credit: Getty images/Goal.com)

Manchester United have struggled thus far, also losing 3-1 at home to Crystal Palace and scraping past Brighton with a last minute penalty after The Seagulls had hit the woodwork a record five times in the match.


Solksjaer's side are currently on three points from three games and sit in a very disappointing 16th place despite the fact their start to the season looked relatively straight forward on paper, especially considering the form they hit towards the end of last season.


The loss against Spurs was an absolute embarrassment for a club like Manchester United and Ole will need to turn things around before they get worse or he will be lucky to be in the dugout come Christmas.

United players looking dejected after their loss against Spurs (Credit: AFP/Talksport)

Burnley, Fulham, Sheffield United and West Brom have all started off the league season abysmally and find themselves at the bottom of the table.


West Brom have one point from their opening games whilst Burnley, Fulham and Sheffield United are still on zero points, with Fulham bottom of the table on goal difference.


Sheffield United, who finished 9th last season, only scored their first goal of their campaign in their last match when they lost 2-1 away to Arsenal highlighting where their issues lie, leading to Chris Wilder splashing close to £25 million on striker Rhian Brewster, 20 from Liverpool.


Sheffield United have been unlucky so far this season, only narrowly losing their games and I fully expect them to recover, however I would be very surprised to see either Fulham or West Brom in the Premier League next season as they are yet to show they were ready for the step up from the Championship.


Burnley's poor start to the season could put them in trouble but they are an experienced squad with an experienced manager in Sean Dyche and as it is very early doors, I predict they will climb the table soon.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder, 53 (Credit: Getty images/YorkshireLive)

At the other end of the table lies the teams who have made a storming start to the season, most notably Everton and Aston Villa.


Everton and Aston Villa have both won every game they have played in the league this season, with Everton playing one more than Villa to be top of the table.


Both teams have enjoyed some big wins so far this season too including a 5-2 win over West Brom for Carlo Ancelotti and Villa's previously mentioned 7-2 dismantling of Liverpool.


Jack Grealish scored two and provided three against Liverpool and has looked full of confidence this season and Dean Smith and Villa will be ecstatic that they've ended the transfer window with their main man still part of the squad.


Villa had a very successful transfer window, with signings such as Emiliano Martinez, who saved a penalty on his debut, and Ross Barkley who scored against former rivals Liverpool in his first game, and the board will be pleased that their work is translating onto the pitch.


Everton's new look midfield trio of Allan, Doucouré and James Rodriguez has looked solid and has run teams ragged, Rodriguez has five G/A in just four Premier League games and has adapted well.


Not one player has scored more than Dominic Calvert-Lewin has so far this season (Son level), he has six goals in four games including a hat-trick in their big win against West Brom.


The ability and creativity of the midfield behind him has no doubt been a huge factor in the red hot form of the 23-year-old.


Calvert-Lewin's fine form in front of goal led to him receiving his first England call up by Gareth Southgate recently too.


Ancelotti has managed to make Everton look like real contenders for those top four places and they wholly deserve to be at the top of the league.

Calvert-Lewin celebrates his goal in the 1-0 win against Spurs (Credit: Getty images/Talksport)

It will be extremely interesting to see if the likes of Everton and Villa keep up their form and stay towards the right end of the table or if their early season momentum will run out.


Manchester United will be hoping that their bad form doesn't last too much longer and the deadline day signings of Alex Telles and Edinson Cavani can get them back to where they feel they belong.


If Sheffield United don't figure out where the goal is anytime soon then they could find themselves in a surprise relegation battle come the end of the season.


Fulham, Burnley and West Brom all need to improve on pretty much everything and will need to show great improvements if they are to stay up.


Hopefully what does carry on all season, is the entertaining games and the bucket load of goals.




75 views0 comments

Comments


Post: Blog2_Post
bottom of page