How the Top 5 of the 2021-22 Premier League table would look based on fair play
The 2021-22 English Premier League season came to an end on May 21 after 38 weeks of exciting football.
Manchester City won their sixth league title in the most dramatic fashion. The Citizens came from two goals down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 at the Etihad, winning the league by just a point above second-placed Liverpool.
In summary, City had 29 wins, six draws, and three losses, giving them a total of 93 points.
◉ Title: Manchester City
◉ UCL: Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs
◉ UEL: Arsenal, Manchester United
◉ UECL: West Ham
◉ Relegation: Burnley, Watford, Norwich
It's all over in the 2021/22 Premier League.
How would the Premier League table look if we consider fair play?
Scoring goals and winning games are important in football. Another aspect of the beautiful game which is also important is fair play. A team's fair play can be measured based on the number of yellow cards and red cards picked up.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the clubs that will make the Premier League top five based on their fair play record.
#5 Leicester City
Brendan Rodgers' Leicester City had a poor season going by their recent pedigree. The Foxes failed to secure a European spot, finishing eighth in the league table.
Leicester's undoing in the just-concluded campaign was a lack of consistency. They failed to record three consecutive wins at any point in the league, accumulating just 14 wins, 14 losses and 10 draws.
However, if the league was to be decided on fair play, the Foxes would finish fifth. The 2015-16 league champions accumulated 54 yellow cards and one red card in the 2021-22 season.
#4 Norwich City
Norwich City will be playing in the Championship next season. The Canaries were the first team to be relegated from the league. With just five wins and seven draws, they finished rock bottom of the Premier League table.
However, if fair play is the yardstick for determining table positions, Norwich will still play in the top-flight next season.
They failed to pick up wins but were a very decent side on the field of play. Norwich and Leicester are tied on cards accumulated (54 yellow cards, one red card). But unlike Leicester, the Canaries' red came indirectly from two yellow cards.