The Five Premier League Teams Who Have Made The Most Fouls So Far This Season

Although we are only five games into the new Premier League season, there are still some interesting stats that we can take away from the opening weeks.

Committing fouls is part of the game. Some are more deliberate than others and there was even some debate a few years back about City’s tendency to make “tactical fouls” in order to break up games.

So who has been giving away the most free kicks in the Premier League so far this campaign?

Press the next page as we list the five teams in the English top-flight who have earned the ire of referees most often.

4=) Aston Villa – 54 Fouls

Dean Smith’s side recruited a number of attacking players over the summer as they tried to compensate for the loss of Jack Grealish, but their defensive organisation doesn’t appear to have been affected.

While not the dirtiest team in the division this season, Villa do try to break up play with a fair number of fouls. We shall see if that continues for the rest of the campaign.

4=) Crystal Palace – 54 Fouls

Now under new management, with Patrick Vieira having replaced Roy Hodgson in the summer, it was expected that the new era would bring with it a new brand of football.

However, despite some promising performances, it appears Vieira has instilled some of the steel and indiscipline that categorised parts of his own career as a player. His team have been rather robust in their challenges so far.

3) Southampton – 55 Fouls

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s high intensity pressing game generally leads to his team pressurising opponents more regularly. That contact appears to lead to more fouls being committed.

While the Saints have been commended for some of their defensive displays, especially against City last weekend, it seems it hasn’t been that effective at getting results, with Hasenhuttl’s side having failed to win any of their five league matches so far.

2) Liverpool – 58 Fouls

Much like with Hasenhuttl, the high pressing style employed by Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool does tend to lead to far more fouls. Whether you can describe that style as dirty, it is probably going a bit far.

The Reds do, though, play on the edge, and their style of play certainly commends itself to referees who have a more lenient opinion on physical contact.

1) Watford – 67 Fouls

The Hornets are by far and away out in front when it comes to committing fouls so far this campaign, with manager Xisco Munoz seemingly deciding to go with a more physical approach to keep his side in the top flight.

Watford appear to be a rather difficult opponent to face at the moment, and it is paying off with results, having won two of their first five matches.

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