Skip to content

Premier League weekend grades: Dean Ashton's verdict

Danny Simpson celebrates with goal-scorer Jamie Vardy
Image: It was another good weekend for Leicester, who beat Stoke 3-0

Did your Premier League team live up to expectations at the weekend?

We asked former West Ham and Norwich striker and Sky Sports Now guest Dean Ashton to grade each side based on their performance in the Premier League 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 each top-flight side has been ranked...

Premier League weekend results

  • Norwich 4-5 Liverpool
  • Crystal Palace 1-3 Tottenham
  • Leicester 3-0 Stoke
  • Man Utd 0-1 Southampton
  • Sunderland 1-1 Bournemouth
  • Watford 2-1 Newcastle
  • West Brom 0-0 Aston Villa
  • West Ham 2-2 Man City
  • Everton 1-2 Swansea
  • Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea

Leicester - A

It's a great result for Leicester. They've had a lot of draws recently and I did think that if they didn't pick a win up soon, it could really start to play on their minds, especially with their big players not firing. But with Jamie Vardy getting a goal on Saturday, Riyad Mahrez putting in a superb performance and Kante impressive, Leicester get an A. I thought they were brilliant.

Tottenham Hotspur players celebrate after Dele Alli scored their second goal
Image: Tottenham players celebrate Dele Alli's superb goal

Tottenham - B

Tottenham had to go to Leicester in midweek in the FA Cup and get a result, which they did. They produced another excellent performance at Selhurst Park. Their big players are really starting to thrive, with Dele Alli and Harry Kane in good form. They are a title contender, that's for sure. To go to Palace and win definitely gets a B.

Also See:

Southampton - B

It was the perfect way for Southampton to win. You want your new signings to hit the ground running and score to give them confidence. That's exactly what happened, which is good news for Ronald Koeman and Charlie Austin. Southampton are actually in very good form at the moment but to go to Old Trafford at any time and get a victory is brilliant, so I'm giving them a B.

Swansea - B

Swansea have picked up recently and it was the perfect start for the new man in charge, Francesco Guidolin. When a new manager comes in, you have to expect an improved performance with everyone upping their games a little bit. But to go to Goodison Park and get a result is massive for them. They get a B.

Enner Valencia (centre) celebrates with team-mates Michail Antonio (left) and Mark Noble (right) after scoring West Ham's second goal
Image: Dean Ashton was impressed with West Ham's weekend performance

West Ham - B

It was another good West Ham performance. There were so many positives for Slaven Bilic and his side. Dimitri Payet is a ridiculously good player and they look a real threat with Enner Valencia up front. The late goal is difficult to take but at the end of the day, Manchester City have players that can hurt you in Sergio Aguero. I don't think West Ham will be too disappointed so I'm giving them a B.

Watford - B

Newcastle were the perfect team for Watford to play after their run of poor results. Watford like to bully and out-muscle the opposition and that's exactly what they did to Newcastle to score the first goal. It was a typical Watford, Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo goal. Newcastle should have known better but it was a good way for Watford to get back to winning ways.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini looks despondent among the bubbles
Image: Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini looks despondent among the bubbles

Man City - C

The defending will be frustrating Manuel Pellegrini. It will also be frustrating the senior players like Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure that they are doing enough to win games, but conceding far too easily. I wouldn't say it's a game that's slipped away for City because I think West Ham away is now a very difficult game. I think they will be pleased with the point in the end and get a C for their efforts.

Chelsea - C

Chelsea will have a good end to the season and the thing about them is they will probably upset a few of the teams at the top of the table that still have to play them. Chelsea will enjoy that! They will definitely be up for those big games, as they were yesterday. I thought they started really well but it's still only a C. I thought they were good but in the end, they were gifted victory after Per Mertesacker's dismissal.

Diego Costa celebrates after scoring against Arsenal
Image: Ashton gave Chelsea a C for their performance at the Emirates

Bournemouth - C

I must be honest, I thought Bournemouth were doomed when they picked up all those injuries but they've done really well to hang on in there. They've now got some new signings which has given the whole club a lift. When you are a promoted side, going away from home and getting a point cannot be sniffed at. It's a good result for Bournemouth and they get a C.

Sunderland - D

This was a game Sam Allardyce would have looked at and thought Sunderland need to get three points. They've got big games coming up and three points would have given them a bit of breathing space but it wasn't meant to be. Bournemouth are a good team and are difficult to beat, but it's a bad result for Sunderland.

Liverpool - D

A result like that only builds belief for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp epitomises that with his reactions. I watched him on the sidelines and he was so animated throughout the game. However, I'd still only give Liverpool a D because I could not really split the two sides in terms of performance. Even though Liverpool won, there were some very good and very bad moments for Klopp and his side.

Liverpool's Adam Lallana (20) celebrates with his team-mates and manager Jurgen Klopp
Image: Liverpool's Adam Lallana (20) celebrates with his team-mates and manager Jurgen Klopp

Norwich - D

There were some brilliant moments and some horrendous moments for both teams. It was a massive game for Norwich and those three points would have meant so much in their bid to stay up. It was a really bad game to lose in the position they are in. A result like that can sap confidence but at the same time, the performance was good apart from a few defensive lapses. I'm giving them a D.

Everton - D

It was a bad day for Everton. Their defensive frailties are surprising considering they have a player such as John Stones. To lose as many points as they have done from winning positions is a worry. On Sunday, I did think they picked up in the second half and were slightly unlucky not to get anything from the game, but it's still a D for that performance in front of their home fans.

John Stones of Everton battles for the ball with Swansea' Wayne Routledge
Image: Everton defender John Stones battles for the ball with Swansea' Wayne Routledge

Newcastle - D

I think Newcastle would have been disappointed with their performance. They have put in some much better showings in recent weeks, but their away form is the problem. They look a strong side at home and have really picked up their performances in front of their own fans. However, on the road they just look weak and are just too easy to beat. It's another performance where they should have known the strengths of Watford but they just did not do anything to combat them.            

Crystal Palace - D

Scoring goals is a massive problem for Alan Pardew and Crystal Palace. I know they got a goal at the weekend but it was an own goal. It's something Alan Pardew will look at because defensively, they have been pretty good. It's not a disgrace to lose to Spurs, who are flying at the moment, but it's still a D for Palace.

Stoke - D

You never want to be on the end of a 3-0 defeat but I can't help but think Stoke had one eye on this week's Capital One Cup semi-final against Liverpool. When you've got a semi-final to play in midweek, you are going to be thinking about it. It doesn't matter what people say it's going to be in your mind. You don't want to get injured and miss out on such a big game. I can see why they lost so that's why they don't get any less than a D.

Arsenal's Per Mertesacker fouls Chelsea's Diego Costa and subsequently receives a red card
Image: Arsenal's Per Mertesacker fouls Chelsea's Diego Costa and subsequently receives a red card

Arsenal - E

Can Arsenal beat the big teams when it really matters? That's always been the question regarding the Gunners. It's a poor mistake from Per Mertesacker and it's a really bad result for Arsenal. Although Chelsea are gradually building their own confidence, Arsenal should be winning at home against such a team. The timing of the result is bad for Arsenal and that's why they get an E.

West Brom, Aston Villa - E

Tony Pulis will be very disappointed with the result because he would have looked at the game against Aston Villa and targeted the three points to move another step closer to safety. However, it was a poor performance and they lacked creativity. Again, for Villa they would have probably thought it was a good chance to get another three points. Villa need more than draws. They would be better to win a game, lose a game and so on rather than keep drawing. It was a really poor game for a derby when you expect a bit more from the players. I'd give them both an E.

Manager Louis van Gaal of Manchester United walks off after the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Southampton
Image: Ashton branded Manchester United's performance as abysmal

Manchester United - F

You could understand the result a bit more if Manchester United had battered Southampton and then the visitors went up the other end a nicked a goal. It wasn't like that at all. United didn't create anything, in fact Southampton got stronger as the game went on. It was only going to be them that scored. It was another abysmal performance from United at home which gets them an F.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The best bits from Jeff Stelling and the Soccer Saturday panel on a day where Leicester went back to the top of the Premier League