Premier League Crucible Report Card – Average Achievers | OneFootball

We’ve officially hit the halfway point of the Crucible, that tumultuous and hectic period of the Premier League season between late November and the New Year. The fixtures come fast and furious, with each team facing a minimum of 10 matches within seven weeks. For teams with European or EFL commitments, the number goes even higher.

So we took all the results and assigned grades to each club. Yes, the recently concluded EFL cup ties have been taken into account. Our final six clubs here sit squarely in the middle of the pack, neither excelling or floundering.

Crystal Palace

Palace have, without question, the toughest Crucible schedule. They play 14 games in 46 days, and eight of those are on the road. The Eagles have earned nine points in the league and remain in the top five going into Matchweek 17.Editor’s Note: this article did not take into account the result of Palace’s Conference League match against KuPS.

Manchester United

My colleague Gary Striker and I were incredulous that United are in sixth place. We can’t for the life of us figure out how, but only losing one out of five in the Crucible helps explain it. They would have been on the honor roll had Bournemouth not staged a spectacular comeback in Monday’s thrilling 4 – 4 match.

Liverpool

With the same PPM as Manchester United but having played two more games, you’d think Liverpool would have the same grade, maybe even higher. But I’m a hard-ass grader, and their status as reigning champions means Liverpool should be doing better. The negative goal difference, spurred by two consecutive losses by three, didn’t help their case.

Brighton & Hove Albion

I’m not sure anyone can explain just what the hell is happening with Brighton right now. After a four-game spell where they earned 13 points, their last three matches have yielded only one. Consistency is the devil with the Seagulls.

Fulham

Up until yesterday’s EFL quarterfinal against Newcastle, Fulham and Everton were matching each other in eerie lockstep. But that fixture proved to be the Cottagers’ undoing, moving them off the honor roll after they lost 2 – 1. I should also note that one of Fulham’s losses was the 5 – 4 insanity against Manchester City (which should have been a draw if there was any fairness in this world). Fulham scored 12 goals in six games; conceded 12 as well. There’s no better team to watch if you want to see goal-scoring action!

Sunderland

Don’t let this grade take away from the remarkable job Sunderland have done since their promotion from the Championship. In these five fixtures their draw was against Liverpool, and they won a gritty Tyne-Wear derby over rivals Newcastle. If they can manage the same results in the next five fixtures, they’ll have done well.

Other Crucible Report Cards

The Honor RollIn Detention