The Premier League (PL) 2021-22 season opens on Friday 13 August 2021 at the Brentford Community Stadium with Brentford v Arsenal, and thereby the next Premier London Derbies (PLDs) contest. What a reward for Brentford who came up through the EFL Championship playoffs, as well as being the 50th Football Club to play in the PL. They replace Fulham in the PL and PLDs and we have Watford back with us too. Coincidentally it was the returning Cottagers who opened the last 2020-21 PL season at home to the Gunners.
Just to remind you of how the PLDs finished last season here is the final table again:
Club. W. D. L. Goal Difference. PLDs pts./total Pl pts.
Chelsea 7 1 2 + 12 22/67 (4th)
Arsenal 6 3 1 + 8 21/61 (8th)
Tottenham Hotspur 3 4 3 + 3 13/62 (7th)
West ham United 3 4 3 – 2 13/65 (6th)
Crystal Palace 1 4 5 – 12 7/44 (14th)
Fulham 0 4 6 – 9 4/28 (18th)
We have added each Club’s total PL points and finishing position in the PL. Although the two “heavyweights” of the PLDs, Chelsea and Arsenal, were 1 and 2 again, the PLDs Club of the season was West Ham United who gained 52 of their record 65 PL points from Clubs outside the M25 circle to finish 6th in the PL. Chelsea won only 45 of their 67 points outside London and Tottenham Hotspur were just one win behind the Hammers.
Crystal Palace were mediocre and safe but with a worse goal difference in the PLDs than Fulham (-12 v -9) and only one better (-25 v -26) in the PL. It will be interesting to see how a new approach under new Head Coach Patrick Viera works out. Their first test comes in the other PLDs match of the weekend which is Chelsea v Crystal Palace on Saturday 14 August. All eyes will be on West London from 8pm on Friday 13th August!
Enjoy our football again, and if you are watching it “Keep Safe”, Andrew at PLDs.