Evaluating Premier League Teams After Matchday 7

This round in the Premier League saw some significant moments. Chelsea recorded their first clean sheet in top-flight football since January, Dejan Kulusevski returned to Tottenham after 526 days, Manchester United attempted a fresh start, and Enzo Maresca made history by winning his first seven Premier League games as a new manager.

The ongoing legal drama around Manchester City remains unresolved, but the performances on the pitch provide firm ground for assessment.

How We Rated the Teams

• Performance: The main focus was on how well teams played, beyond just the final score.
• Expectations: Teams that exceeded expectations earned higher marks.
• Venue: Away results were given extra credit, acknowledging the challenge of playing without home support.

Matchday 7 Team Rankings

• 20. Sunderland (0-2 Loss vs. Bournemouth)Kevin Danso’s early red card worsened Sunderland’s troubles, but the team was already struggling. Nordi Mukiele admitted the team’s problems stemmed partly from arrogance.
• 19. Crystal Palace (0-5 Loss vs. Brighton)Pierre Sage described the experience as one of shame after a heavy defeat to Brighton.
• 18. Hull City (0-1 Loss vs. Fulham)Hull was outplayed in all aspects by Fulham, with manager Sergej Jakirović calling it "men against boys."
• 17. Newcastle United (0-1 Loss vs. Aston Villa)Newcastle’s chaotic play contrasted with Aston Villa’s calm control. Despite heavy investment in forwards, they resorted to using Dan Burn late in attack.
• 16. Coventry City (1-3 Loss vs. Tottenham)Frank Lampard’s team started strong but couldn’t hold on, suffering defeat at Tottenham’s ground.
• 15. Everton (0-2 Loss vs. Chelsea)David Moyes praised Harrison Armstrong’s tough tackle as the best moment in a disappointing match where Everton struggled offensively.
• 14. Brentford (1-2 Loss vs. Liverpool)Yehor Yarmoliuk’s red card shifted momentum against Brentford despite their determined effort.
• 13. Ipswich Town (2-3 Loss vs. Manchester City)Dara O’Shea reflected on their goal-scoring efforts which troubled Manchester City but fell short of earning points.
• 12. Leeds United (1-1 Draw vs. Manchester United)Leeds disappointed by playing timidly in the first half against a lackluster United side that still managed a draw.
• 11. Manchester United (1-1 Draw vs. Leeds United)Michael Carrick’s fresh tactical approach involved players adapting individually to opponents, earning a point but not solving defensive issues.
• 10. Arsenal (1-0 Win vs. Nottingham Forest)Mikel Arteta’s team repeated a pattern of slow starts but relied on substitutes to secure narrow wins, causing mixed feelings about their consistency.
• 9. Nottingham Forest (0-1 Loss vs. Arsenal)Forest controlled much of the game but lacked the finishing touch, remaining goalless at home for over eight hours of playtime.
• 8. Liverpool (2-1 Win vs. Brentford)Liverpool capitalized on an early red card against Brentford, with Alexander Isak scoring and Florian Wirtz providing key creativity.
• 7. Aston Villa (1-0 Win vs. Newcastle United)Johan Manzambi scored the only goal, adding sweetness given Newcastle had almost signed him before Villa secured his transfer.
• 6. Manchester City (3-2 Win vs. Ipswich Town)Despite off-field distractions, Enzo Maresca’s City remain unbeaten, powered by a relentless Erling Haaland.
• 5. Tottenham Hotspur (3-1 Win vs. Coventry City)With Dejan Kulusevski back and James Maddison scoring, Tottenham revisited better days despite a shaky start.
• 4. Bournemouth (2-0 Win vs. Sunderland)Marco Rose attributed Bournemouth’s dominant performance to a strong mentality, overwhelming Sunderland in shots and possession.
• 3. Chelsea (2-0 Win vs. Everton)Xabi Alonso praised Chelsea’s gritty victory and their first Premier League clean sheet of the season despite a physical contest.
• 2. Fulham (1-0 Win vs. Hull City)Álvaro Arbeloa celebrated his first Premier League win as Fulham manager, validating his persistent approach.
• 1. Brighton & Hove Albion (5-0 Win vs. Crystal Palace)Brighton’s dominant display, including one spectacular goal, marked a special day as they outscored most teams this season.