Premier League Matchday Three: Ranking Every Team's Performance

The weekend delivered a mix of comebacks, draws, and decisive moments throughout the Premier League. Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool each experienced very different weekends, highlighting the unpredictable nature of this campaign.

Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard confidently stated, "What you have seen in the first couple of weeks in the Premier League is that all of the teams are good." But is that really the case?

This season marks the first time in the 138-year history of England’s top division that three teams remain without scoring after three games. This count excludes one of the two clubs yet to claim a point this term.

Despite record-breaking spending across the league, almost every club finished the transfer window still longing for at least one missed target. While these clubs are strong compared to European rivals due to their financial muscle, they all reveal flaws when matched against each other. That competitive imperfection adds to the intrigue of each matchday.

These squads aren’t flawless machines but human sides with weaknesses. Some edged closer to perfection than others during the recent fixtures.

How We Ranked The Teams

• Performance: Our main focus was how well each side played, looking beyond just the final score to assess control and balance during the game.
• Expectations: Results that defied predictions were given extra credit.
• Venue: Winning away carries more weight because home advantage has proven significant, especially since the 2020–21 season without fans.

Matchday Three Team Rankings

• 20. Ipswich Town (0–2 Loss vs. Liverpool) – Ipswich struggled to trouble a porous Liverpool defense. Manager Gary O’Neil lamented the lack of points despite some decent moments.
• 19. Aston Villa (0–0 Draw vs. Hull City) – A shockingly poor attacking display left questions as Villa failed to register a shot on target, with Emery oddly satisfied by the outcome.
• 18. Chelsea (1–2 Loss vs. Arsenal) – After an early goal, Chelsea faded as Arsenal took control, with their second-half creativity stifled despite holding near half possession.
• 17. Hull City (0–0 Draw vs. Aston Villa) – Impressive defensive solidity saw Hull earn a point and leave their manager joking about chasing Champions League qualification.
• 16. Tottenham Hotspur (0–0 Draw vs. Nottingham Forest) – Spurs remained stuck in mediocrity, unable to create clear chances or break down Forest’s defense, matching their reputation of being neither terrible nor excellent.
• 15. Coventry City (0–1 Loss vs. Manchester City) – Coventry limited Manchester City’s Erling Haaland to just four shots on target, an impressive defensive effort that nearly earned points.
• 14. Crystal Palace (3–2 Win vs. Fulham) – Palace survived a wild game despite being outplayed territorially, relying on goalkeeper Dean Henderson and some luck to secure their first win.
• 13. Fulham (2–3 Loss vs. Crystal Palace) – Despite the loss, Fulham showed promise but left themselves exposed with an aggressive press, forcing their striker into defensive duties.
• 12. Brighton & Hove Albion (1–1 Draw vs. Leeds United) – Luka Vušković’s late equalizer rescued Brighton after a sluggish start, echoing their recurring problem of slow awakenings.
• 11. Nottingham Forest (0–0 Draw vs. Tottenham) – Forest’s controversial disallowed goal overshadowed their solid defensive performance, raising questions about their attacking effectiveness.
• 10. Brentford (1–1 Draw vs. Sunderland) – A triple substitution sparked Brentford into life, salvaging a point after a slow start against Sunderland.
• 9. Leeds United (1–1 Draw vs. Brighton) – A match of two halves saw Leeds dominate early before being overwhelmed in the second half, but they secured a respectable draw.
• 8. Sunderland (1–1 Draw vs. Brentford) – Enzo Le Fée redeemed himself by calmly converting a penalty late on, ensuring Sunderland earned a share of the points.
• 7. Manchester United (2–2 Draw vs. Everton) – United threw away a strong position due to defensive lapses on set pieces, allowing Everton to snatch a late equalizer.
• 6. AFC Bournemouth (2–2 Draw vs. Newcastle United) – Bournemouth lost a two-goal lead after dominating much of the match, highlighting a troubling pattern of conceding late goals.
• 5. Everton (2–2 Draw vs. Manchester United) – Everton impressed with superior expected goals, shots, and chances, deservedly earning a draw with a dramatic late goal.
• 4. Newcastle United (2–2 Draw vs. Bournemouth) – Newcastle’s defending was labeled “slapstick” by their own coach, a critical issue that cost them points.
• 3. Manchester City (1–0 Win vs. Coventry City) – City won a tight battle thanks to a lone Haaland header, edging past Coventry’s stubborn defensive block in a tense encounter.
• 2. Liverpool (2–0 Win vs. Ipswich Town) – Liverpool finally delivered a mature, composed performance. Alexander Isak netted twice, with the team showing signs of growing into their ideal style.
• 1. Arsenal (2–1 Win vs. Chelsea) – Arsenal took control after an early setback, dominating the rest of the match while restricting Chelsea’s attacking threat to minimal chances, sending a clear message to the title race.