Premier League grades: Steve Round gives his verdict
Tuesday 27 October 2015 10:36, UK
Did your Premier League team live up to expectations this weekend?
We've asked Sky Sports Now guest, and former Manchester United and Everton assistant manager, Steve Round to give each side a grade based solely on their 90-minute performance over the weekend.
So how did your team fare? Did they get an A+ or an F, or somewhere in between? Read on to see how your team has been ranked...
Arsenal - A
Their win over Everton was a really good game to watch and both sides wanted to win. Arsenal kept going late on and hit the woodwork but they just shaded it in an evenly-matched contest. Great game to watch.
Sunderland - A
In terms of result it's got to be an A for Sunderland but their display, particularly in the first half, was well below par. A 3-0 win at home to Newcastle is an incredible result for Sunderland but their performance wasn't great.
Tottenham - A
If you're scoring five goals away from home in the Premier League against any opposition it is a grade A result. It's great to see Harry Kane getting a hat-trick and getting back to form.
West Ham - A
I know Chelsea aren't in great form and there is a lot of conjecture around them at the minute but to beat Chelsea in any game is a great performance. West Ham are beating all the big boys now and they've all been A performances.
Watford - B+
Great away win for Watford. Troy Deeney got his first goal which is important, I like him as a player and he'll go on to score more goals as he is a real leader of the line. Watford are tough to beat, which is what you need to be if you are to stay in this league as you cannot be so expansive due to the amount of quality. So all in all it was a great result at Stoke, a tough place to go.
Leicester - B
Yet another good win for Leicester at home to Crystal Palace and a good performance. They won by the odd goal but the game was evenly matched throughout.
Man City - B
We needed an early goal in the Manchester derby really and the only way that was going to happen was from a mistake, which wasn't going to happen, or from a piece of brilliance. Neither team managed to do that but getting a point away from home sees City just sneak ahead of United in terms of grades.
Everton - B
Everton had a good go right until the end against Arsenal and could have got a result, hitting the bar at the death. Both teams wanted to win the game and performed well throughout. Everton only just lost out in the end.
Southampton - B
Performance-wise Southampton were probably a C, the manager felt they didn't play well. But taking a point away from Anfield is a good result so I've given them a B.
Swansea - B
Swansea needed a win at Aston Villa to relieve the pressure that was starting to build around the club, if you don't get wins you get pressure. They went behind but they won the game and that was a big win for Garry Monk.
West Brom - B
West Brom winning in a crucial away game at Norwich would have pleased Tony Pulis. He would probably agree with my grade because to win away from home against the teams that will be around you is really important.
Crystal Palace - C
Palace played well and were right in the game up until the final whistle. It was a decent performance from them despite the fact they just missed out, which sees Leicester earn a slightly better grade.
Liverpool - C
Liverpool put in a decent performance against Southampton and created the better chances, going a goal ahead. They'll be disappointed to have been pegged back and they should've seen out the win. By hook or by crook they should have seen it through but they gave away a soft goal from a set piece.
Man Utd - C
In terms of defensive solidity and the way both managers approached the tactically it was probably a B from both Manchester teams. Offensively, this was affected by those tactics and, while it probably wasn't a great game to watch, it was fascinating tactically as it was played out like a chess game. It's a C for United because, despite playing well, they couldn't get the goal they needed.
Newcastle - C
Newcastle's first-half performance was probably a B but they didn't score and the result in the end was poor because they lost to their local rivals. The way they played was really good but, yet again, the result in the derby hasn't gone their way. They were perhaps unfortunate to have Fabricio Coloccini sent off, which didn't help them.
Chelsea - D
They are creating their own downfall. They're a great team with a great manager and at the minute I don't feel they're concentrating on the football. They're being side-tracked with other things and that's why their performance at West Ham, in my opinion, went down to a D. They had another man sent off and then it was difficult. If Chelsea can start to focus on the football then the wins will come to them, they need to focus on how good a team they are and pull together.
Norwich - D
If Norwich are going to stay in the league and move forward and progress then they should be winning, or at least not losing, at home against teams like West Brom.
Aston Villa - E
The match with Swansea was a big game in terms of managers under pressure and, given the fact Villa lost, it was probably an E. Having gone in front, and given the situation they are in, they've got to see it through. They didn't manage to do that and the manager lost his job as a result. In terms of the team taking responsibility, they didn't do that.
Bournemouth - E
If you're going to lose by four goals at home it's going to be a tough season. Bournemouth will be really disappointed with the way they conceded some of the goals against Spurs. They are a decent footballing team but the result was poor. I admire that Bournemouth try to play good football but there comes a time when you've got to start grinding out results here and there, you've got to be competitive.
Stoke - E
Shock result at the Britannia. Similar to Norwich, Stoke have got to beat the teams round and, with Watford coming to town, they would have fancied it. They'll be disappointed they have not got a result out of that.
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