The 5 Dirtiest Clubs In The Premier League This Season (Based On Their Fair Play Table Ranking)

David Tully

7 months ago

Categories: Galleries, Manchester City News

Tags: Arsenal, aston villa, Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Sheffield United, Southampton, spurs, West Ham, wolves

Bookings and sending-offs happen at every level of football but the frequency that the referee issues cards can lead to a club getting a reputation for being dirty.

The Fair Play Table records the discipline of every team currently playing in the Premier League.

In this post today, we will be naming and shaming the top-flight clubs that have picked up the most yellows and reds so far this campaign.

Press the next page as we list the five sides that are bottom of the Premier League Fair Play Table (data sourced from Transfermarkt).

5) Tottenham – 31 Pts (28 Yellows, 1 Red)

It’s interesting that Spurs were fifth from bottom of the Fair Play Table last season as well.

While their style of play has improved in possession, it appears that new manager Ange Postecoglou hasn’t curtailed their aggression without the ball.

The combination seems to be working for Spurs so far, as they sit top of the table, 2 points clear after 9 matches.

Their one red card came against Luton Town, when Yves Bissouma was given his marching orders after two bookable offences.

4) Liverpool – 32 Pts (14 Yellows, 4 Reds)

It’s rather bizarre that, if we simply ranked the Reds on bookings, they would be joint 2nd in the Fair Play table.

However, Jurgen Klopp’s side have managed to pick up 4 reds so far this campaign; two of which came in the same game against Tottenham last month.

Another (Alexis Mac Allister’s sending-off versus Bournemouth in August) was rescinded on appeal.

For that reason, it would be harsh to say that Liverpool are a dirty team but they have lacked discipline in certain fixtures.

3) Nottingham Forest – 33 Pts (25 Yellows, 2 Reds)

Steve Cooper’s men are known for their aggression, especially in matches at home.

It has meant that Forest have been involved in plenty of scrappy games this season, having won twice, drawn 4 and lost 3 times so far.

You would think that their ill-discipline would have cost them more points but, in the two games where they went down to 10 men, they drew both times.

The two matches against Burnley and Brentford ended up as 1-1 draws.

2) Chelsea – 34 Pts (29 Yellows, 1 Red)

Chelsea have had just one red card so far; that was Malo Gusto after his high challenge in the 1-0 home defeat to Aston Villa.

The Blues have had a number of yellow cards for dissent, with the main culprit being Nicolas Jackson.

The summer signing from Villarreal managed to pick up five yellows in his first six league games for his new team, getting himself a one-match suspension in the process.

Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez have also got themselves into the book three times apiece.

1) Wolves – 38 Pts (27 Yellows, 3 Reds)

Gary O’Neil’s team are living right on the edge in terms of adhering to the laws of the game.

Wolves have had the second-most players sent off (behind Liverpool), whilst accruing the third-most bookings in their first nine matches.

The Midlands club did have a very difficult start to the campaign, and some have even tipped them for relegation, but they have picked up some good results in recent weeks (including a shock win over Manchester City).

If they are to maintain their top-flight status, though, they need to ensure they keep 11 men on the pitch more often.