London giant tops list of most fouled teams in the Premier League this season

April 27, 2019 By Ali M.

Topics: Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United, Everton, Bournemouth, English Premier League

Liverpool and Man City, oddly enough, sit nowhere near the top 10.

The Premier League is home to some of the most talented players in the world and some of the hardest men to defend against. Factor in the physicality of the English top-flight and one can easily deduce that fouls are in abundance in Europe's most exciting league.

However, which team is the most fouled side this season? Conventional knowledge has us believing that teams with the best dribblers win the most fouls -- when you can't stop them legally, bring them down is the motto of many. Despite this, Salah's Liverpool, Sterling's Man City, and Son's Tottenham all failed to make the top five.

Instead, Guardiola's side is the least fouled team in the league this term with an average of only 7.9 fouls per game, tied with Brighton. What about Klopp's table-toppers? With 8.8 to their name, they sit in 17th, only three spots above the reigning champion.

Spurs also failed to make the top 10, coming in at 13th with an average of 9.5 fouls suffered per game. Regardless, the Premier League's big six are still represented in the top five of this list.

In fifth is Man United (10.6), followed by Everton (11.2) in fourth. Chelsea comes in at third (11.3), a number which is likely down to Belgian wizard Eden Hazard and his majestic feet.

Bournemouth surprisingly sits ahead of Sarri's men, coming in at second with 11.7 fouls received per game. Who is in first? That honor goes to Arsenal, with Unai Emery's men being on the wrong end of a tackle on an average of 12 times per 90 minutes.

This is not the table the Gunners want to be leading, however, given that they sit in the fifth spot and are in danger of missing out on the top four. Tottenham's 1-0 home defeat to West Ham could see Aubameyang and Co. move within a point of Pochettino's crew, though. If they wish to take advantage of this, they must shrug off their awful away form and beat Leicester at the King Power Stadium come Sunday.

Most fouled teams this season per game (list via the Mirror)