Man Utd are Premier League’s dirtiest this season – with Leeds at opposite end

Manchester United are the dirtiest team in the Premier League, according to data based on fouls committed per tackle in the 2020/21 season.

The Red Devils have completed 480 tackles this term in the top-flight, giving away 402 fouls in the process. This gives Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side a fouls per tackle rate of 0.84- the highest of any side in the division.

Marcus Rashford is United's worst offender, committing 1.5 fouls for every clean challenge.

At the other end of the table are Leeds United, who have shaken off their 'dirty' tag upon their return to the Premier League.

Leeds are currently the second most efficient tacklers in the Premier League, with 0.60 fouls for every clean tackle. Only Southampton (0.59) are ahead by only the finest of margins, according to findings from BetVictor.

Marco Bielsa’s men have also made more clean challenges this season than any other team in the Premier League at 636, 233 more than Arsenal who have completed the lowest number of clean tackles.

The rest of the 'big six' trail United by some distance and have been far more disciplined when challenging for possession.

Arsenal are the closest to Solskjaer's side in the standings with a rate of 0.76, with Manchester City marginally behind the Gunners (0.75). Liverpool ( 0.73), Chelsea (0.70) and Tottenham Hotspur (0.70) boast more impressive numbers than their top six counterparts.

When it comes to individual offenders, it's strikers who are faring worst.

Eight of the top 10 players with the worst fouls per tackle ratio operate in the final third of the pitch- with Burnley’s Ashley Barnes topping the list.

The English forward is racking up only one clean tackle for every three-and-a-half fouls this season and has committed only 12 clean challenges in his 1,293 minutes of football, alongside 43 fouls.

Newcastle’s Callum Wilson is the player second most likely to give away a free-kick, having made 11 tackles and 35 fouls at a rate of 3.18 fouls per tackle.

Third place belongs another Burnley player in Chris Wood, who averages three fouls for every tackle. Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin comes in fourth with a foul to tackle ratio of 2.54, while Crystal Palace's Christian Benteke rounds off the top five offenders with a ratio of 2.41.

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