The Dirtiest Games in Premier League History as Liverpool Matches Headline List

• Referees tend to be busiest during Liverpool matches, according to recent data
• One of the ‘dirtiest games in EPL history’ involved the Reds in September 2023
• The game saw the referee issue as many as 10 yellow cards and one sending-off

What is a football match without a bit of drama?

The Premier League is probably one of the most entertaining divisions in the world because it has it all; from talented footballers to some extraordinary characters on the pitch.

Some of these characters are notorious for getting themselves in the referee’s bad books, and fans would argue that is what makes the game worth watching.

A classic example is Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, who has nine bookings this season when only one of those has come from a foul. It’s safe to say the Senegal international is the gift that keeps giving.

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With the emergence of VAR, bookings have become more prevalent in the modern game, as referees now have the time and space to review incidents before making a final call.

Bearing this in mind, it comes as no surprise that four of the 10 games that had the most bookings in the Premier League took place in 2023.

Here is a detailed look at the ‘dirtiest games in Premier League history, as per data from worldfootball.net:

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Re-living the 'dirtiest game in the Premier League'

As seen above, the Brentford vs Aston Villa game on December 17, 2023, takes the cake for the dirtiest Premier League game.

In a game that saw two each side receive a red card, the visiting Aston Villa claimed a 2-1 win which helped them maintain third spot on the log after 17 games.

Keane Lewis-Potter gave Brentford the lead towards the end of the first half with a shot that went past the goalie in a crowded penalty area.

The turning point of the game came in the 71st minute, when The Bees lost Ben Mee who caught Leon Bailey on the ankle.

On-pitch referee David Coote’s decision to send off Mee incensed Brentford players and their manager Thomas Frank, who was booked for his protests, per BBC.

Alex Moreno then scored an equaliser in the 77th minute before Ollie Watkins completed the turnaround eight minutes later.

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Most bizarre red cards in history

Elsewhere, Sports Brief reported on some of the strangest red card incidents in history.

A more recent bizarre red card incident happened during Manchester United’s game against Liverpool in December 2023, when Diogo Dalot was issued two yellow cards seconds apart.

Interestingly, both cards were shown for dissent.