Evaluating Every Premier League Team’s Performance on Matchday Three

Assessing All 20 Premier League Teams from Matchday Three

The weekend brought a mix of comebacks, stalemates, and decisive performances throughout the league. Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard boldly stated that "all teams are good," but is that really the case?

This season marks the first in 138 years of English top-flight football with three teams still waiting for their opening goal, not including one club that has lost all three matches so far. Despite record-breaking spending, most clubs ended the transfer window still chasing at least one elusive signing. While these teams boast superior financial power compared to other European leagues, they remain flawed when measured against each other, which keeps every round engaging.

They are not unstoppable machines but human squads with weaknesses. Some edged closer to perfection than others over the weekend.

How We Ranked Them

• Performance: The core focus—how well each team played, beyond just the final score.
• Expectations: Upsets and exceeding predictions were rewarded.
• Venue: Away results received extra credit, given the strong home advantage shown during the behind-closed-doors season of 2020–21.

20. Ipswich (0-2 Loss vs. Liverpool)

Gary O’Neil lamented having to find positives after Ipswich failed to challenge a vulnerable Liverpool. It wasn’t exactly a strong performance from Ipswich, who couldn’t trouble their opponents effectively.

19. Aston Villa (0-0 Draw vs. Hull)

Aston Villa's lackluster display at the MKM Stadium was puzzling, especially since manager Unai Emery insisted the game went according to plan—despite his side not registering a single shot on target.

18. Chelsea (1-2 Loss vs. Arsenal)

Chelsea began brightly, celebrating an early goal from Morgan Rogers. Yet after that, Arsenal took control, with Martin Ødegaard’s winner five minutes after halftime sealing the win. Chelsea, known for quick counterattacks, struggled to create chances in the second half despite holding nearly half the possession.

17. Hull (0-0 Draw vs. Aston Villa)

Hull City’s solid start, accumulating seven points in three games, sparked jokes from manager Sergej Jakirović about pushing for a Champions League spot. Their ease in containing Aston Villa suggests their ambitions might not be unrealistic.

16. Tottenham (0-0 Draw vs. Nottingham Forest)

Tottenham once again found themselves stuck in a dreary limbo, unable to threaten meaningfully. Their goalless draw felt like purgatory—neither poor nor impressive, just stuck in between.

15. Coventry (0-1 Loss vs. Man City)

Limiting Manchester City to only four shots on target at the Etihad is a rare feat. Coventry showed resilience but lacked enough offensive firepower to earn points.

14. Crystal Palace (3-2 Win vs. Fulham)

Crystal Palace's first win came despite surrendering a huge amount of territory, allowing Fulham 64 touches inside their box. A mix of luck and great goalkeeping from Dean Henderson kept them afloat in a chaotic match.

13. Fulham (2-3 Loss vs. Crystal Palace)

Despite defeat, Fulham showed promise. Their aggressive pressing left them exposed defensively, with striker Gonzalo García even tracking back deep. Rival manager Pierre Sage expressed sympathy for them after the wild encounter.

12. Brighton (1-1 Draw vs. Leeds)

Brighton struggled early but managed to salvage a point thanks to Luka Vušković’s second-half equalizer, though the team appeared sluggish before then.

11. Nottingham Forest (0-0 Draw vs. Tottenham)

Nottingham Forest had a goal controversially disallowed for handball, sparking debate. Still, questions linger on how they barely managed to break down a soft Tottenham defense.

10. Brentford (1-1 Draw vs. Sunderland)

Brentford came alive after a triple substitution at halftime, finally securing a point with Vitaly Janelt’s goal after an initially slow start.

9. Leeds (1-1 Draw vs. Brighton)

Leeds dominated the first half, outshooting Brighton significantly, but were overwhelmed after the break. Manager Daniel Farke considered the point earned as acceptable.

8. Sunderland (1-1 Draw vs. Brentford)

Enzo Le Fée redeemed a previous penalty miss by confidently scoring the equalizer late against Brentford, securing a deserved draw.

7. Manchester United (2-2 Draw vs. Everton)

Manchester United dropped points after a poor first half led to a frantic finish. Everton took advantage of set-piece weaknesses to secure a draw.

6. Bournemouth (2-2 Draw vs. Newcastle)

Bournemouth let a 2-0 lead slip thanks to sloppy defending. Manager Marco Rose urged his players to confront this recurring issue head-on.

5. Everton (2-2 Draw vs. Manchester United)

Everton’s effort was rewarded by Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ stunning late goal. They outperformed United across multiple metrics, earning a share of the points.

4. Newcastle (2-2 Draw vs. Bournemouth)

Newcastle’s defense was described as “slapstick” by Matthias Jaissle, highlighting their error-strewn performance despite salvaging a draw.

3. Manchester City (1-0 Win vs. Coventry)

In a tense battle, Manchester City found a breakthrough through Erling Haaland’s header. The game’s tight nature left City’s coach wary of the fragile victory.

2. Liverpool (2-0 Win vs. Ipswich)

Liverpool delivered a mature display after earlier stumbles. Alexander Isak scored twice, and the defense looked solid. They seemed closer to their desired style.

1. Arsenal (2-1 Win vs. Chelsea)

Arsenal secured a statement victory over London rivals Chelsea. Despite conceding early from a set piece, Arsenal dominated thereafter, restricting Chelsea’s expected goals to just 0.35.