A new Premier League campaign kicks off this weekend which means it’s time for everyone’s favourite form of preseason analysis, kit rankings!
Yes we all know that clubs putting out three new jerseys every year can be the ultimate test of loyalty, especially when they are charging a pretty penny (or 12) for each new shirt.
Plus, a lot of these clubs have longstanding traditions to certain colour schemes for both home and away kit and the pressure on the manufacturers to come up with something new and fresh each season can lead to some rather strange designs.
With all bar one club releasing at least a home and away kit for the coming season (and some having already played the back end of last season in their new outfits) we’re going through the great, the good, the bad and the atrocious for every club in our annual Premier League Kit Rankings!
This is something we in the Neds office take VERY seriously and this list is the product of months of debate and analysis.
Last season’s rankings even saw some screaming matches break out across the room.
You may say there is no rhyme or reason to these rankings and in all fairness, you’re probably right but these are all subjective so if you don’t like them… it really won’t change a thing.
Anyway, read on for our breakdown of the new jerseys.
20 – Burnley
Nobody will accuse Burnley of being the most exciting club in the Premier League and this is one of their worst kit efforts yet.
Something is really off with the shoulders and it looks like they couldn’t decide between three neck designs.
#100YEARHEROES | Our home kit for the 20/21 season takes inspiration from the kit worn by one of the greatest squad of players in the club’s history.
READ MORE ➡️ https://t.co/Lxsc9tfmOq pic.twitter.com/KZHB8U9xIR
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) August 14, 2020
They haven’t announced the away kit yet but if this is anything to go by I can go without seeing it all season.
19 – Liverpool
In case you haven’t heard, Liverpool won their first Premier League title in 30 years last season… and have continued to bang on about it relentlessly.
For their first title defence since the early 1990’s, Nike have produced a pair of kits worthy of… a mid table team at best really.
The green trim around the next is an ode to something but it really does ruin the look of the jersey.
THE. WAIT. IS. OVER. 🙌
Our new 2020/21 @NikeFootball home kit 🔴 #TellUsNever
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 1, 2020
This away one is nothing short of atrocious as well, looking more like a weather radar saying things are about to get really nasty.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CD0gDDyl011/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
18 – West Brom
We’ve got a pair of West Brom kits here… or a two for one deal, we’re just not quite sure with this barcode inspired design.
Apparently even stripes across the jersey are out this year which makes no sense.
On the plus side, each player’s matchday jersey has their contract release clause coded into the barcode if you run them through one of those grocery store self checkouts while they are wearing them.
Your favourite?
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) August 4, 2020
17 – Manchester City
City might be Premier League favourites but their football will have to be extra pretty this season with these kit offerings.
The home one looks like the footpath on the way to the Etihad stadium and while it has grown on me since it was launched, it still is one of the lesser designs.
🔙 to the City
Shop now: https://t.co/TenzWorieK
🏙 #ThisIsOurCity pic.twitter.com/R0P0SK1ZFM
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 16, 2020
In all fairness, the away kit for City looks pretty good and the black with gold trim does look quite classy but all it is doing is bringing up an otherwise very low average score.
Looking our best on the road! 🔥
SHOP NOW: https://t.co/4RszdMTNYm
🔵 #ThisIsOurCity pic.twitter.com/I1Jy4DMrmf
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 3, 2020
Then there’s this monumental turd of a design, where some uni student was apparently allowed to put a discount store vest lining pattern on the kit… what were they thinking?
Football 🤝 Music 🤝 Fashion
SHOP NOW 🛒 https://t.co/nkpvKm7iuI
🙌 @pumafootball
🔵 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/p6Jd6mOTxz— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 27, 2020
16 – Wolves
There’s something decidedly 80’s about the Wolves home kit and it… kind of works.
The pattern on the front is unique enough to really pop out and on its own I’m even will to go as far as calling it pretty good, despite some of the reactions from Wolves fans.
Pre order the new home kit 👉 https://t.co/L0OxSf05C5 pic.twitter.com/XNa1I9LApn
— Wolves (@Wolves) July 28, 2020
Then there’s this away one which is… well there’s no other way to put it… rubbish.
When you factor in the sponsor and club badge, there’s about 8 different colours on the shit and nobody wants that.
If the home kit represents the good part of the 80’s, this is definitely in the “John Stamos’s Mullet” territory.
👕👇
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 28, 2020
15 – Chelsea
Chelsea’s home kit on its own would have ranked much higher on this list but you have to wonder what on earth Nike were thinking with the other two designs.
The blue with black trim looks very sharp and it blends well with the shorts, although the placement of new sponsor 3 seems destined for a lot of memes when Chelsea concedes that many goals in a match.
Pulisic plays a lovely one-two with Giroud before getting a shot on goal, but his effort is off target.
🔵 2-0 🐺 [77’] #CHEWOL pic.twitter.com/Lyi6bQGueL
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 26, 2020
If you have seen something resembling the away strip in a department store sleepwear section it would not be a surprise at all.
Sam Kerr is excellent but even she can’t make this look decent.
Introducing our new @nikefootball 20/21 away kit. Inspired by a classic tailored aesthetic but filtered through a modern street lens and colour palette.
Available 30.07.20 #ItsAChelseaThing #ThePrideOfLondon pic.twitter.com/BgcUKZMm5d
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 7, 2020
Meanwhile the third kit is nothing short of an atrocity, if Roman Abramovich wanted a club that looks like Crystal Palace… why not just buy Crystal Palace?
Meet a new legacy. The 20/21 @nikefootball third kit is here! 🔥
One for the sneakerheads 👟, inspired by the 1990s Ultramarine Air Max 180 and classic shirts of the past!
Available 10.09.20. #ItsAChelseaThing pic.twitter.com/mWRnkhCMWh
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 7, 2020
14 – Southampton
After having the worst kits in the Premier League last season, Southampton have at least opted for something better this season.
The home and third kits will use the sash style which is a departure from their traditional candy stripes.
Admittedly the design itself isn’t all that bad but… it’s still Southampton and there’s just something intrinsically boring about this club.
Good morning Southampton fans! Take a look at your brand new home, third and goalkeeper kits for the 2020/21 season! #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/1VtT5FC1Bg
— Carl Anka (@Ankaman616) July 8, 2020
Thankfully this away effort is very sharp although you could be forgiven for thinking it’s an homage to fierce south coast rivals Portsmouth which is a bit of a no-go at St Mary’s.
Role models! 💙💛
Thoughts on our new away kit, #SaintsFC fans? 😍 pic.twitter.com/kfkK6tq9dL
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 3, 2020
13 – Newcastle
Another club whose home kit is truly elite is Newcastle, from top to bottom this is one of the best.
How can you not love the details here from the silver Puma logo to the stripes on the socks?
https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/1286289565024751617?s=20
Then you have the away and third kits which undo all of that good work.
Apparently the away shirt is in a “fizzy yellow” design while the third strip is described as an “eye-catching ‘prism-violet’ design.”
Why did they have to overdo this?
𝘼 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠.
🥁 Introducing our 2020/21 @pumafootball away and third kits.
⚫️ #NUFC ⚪️
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 10, 2020
12 – Manchester United
United’s kits this season aren’t too bad at all, they are just in that tier below the truly elite ones.
If nobody had mentioned this home shirt looked like a bus seat it would have been ranked higher but now I can’t get that image out of my head so it has to come down a notch.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDdb00agerG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Much like the home one, this away kit is somewhere in that twilight zone between good and great.
👕 We'll be wearing our new @adidasfootball away shirt in Sunday's #UEL semi-final…
Now we're giving you the chance to win your very own ⬇️#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 15, 2020
As for the third kit… this might be the worst effort not just this season but in the last 20 years.
It was very tempting to drop United to 20th just because of this alone.
⚪️ Ready to stand out.
⚫️ #ReadyForSport.Our new third shirt by @adidasfootball, on sale now: https://t.co/4xh5r5QfCh#MUFC pic.twitter.com/9hQHcBJMqf
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 8, 2020
11 – Tottenham
Another experimental effort from Nike that has backfired badly in this home kit.
Perhaps if the sleeves were all white or all navy it’s a different story but it seems like they’re trying to cram too much into the one design.
📲 @HKane #THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/MKYJUMmRZv
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 1, 2020
Spurs have not won any trophies of note lately but they have put together a case for the “best away kit” with this effort though.
Just about everyone (bar Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham fans) will have to admit this is a pretty combination.
🌏 Around the world with @LucasMoura7 ⚽#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/1vs4bINnBM
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 1, 2020
Then there’s the third kit which plenty of road workers will be picking up at the end of the season for a cheap high-vis outfit for summer nights.
Together 💛 #THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/1CiP9wbFzZ
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 7, 2020
10 – Arsenal
In all fairness to the Gunners, they are trying to improve on three almost perfect kits from last season and the two we have seen to date are… somewhat mixed.
For the home jersey, they have gone for a waves pattern that looks a bit like last season’s “bruised banana” effort in the away strip and looks pretty good all things considered.
Leading from the front.
Congratulations, @Aubameyang7 🏆 pic.twitter.com/rjIVHEptu5
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 8, 2020
That away one however… apparently the design is meant to mimic marble but to most it falls somewhere between an axe murderer’s shirt after their rampage, cracked asphalt and a major mishap making a jam donut.
Ready for action.#ReadyForSport | @adidasfootball
👉 https://t.co/p0wnEsqObm pic.twitter.com/sIdMMVMkdR
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 20, 2020
We’re still waiting for the official announcement of the third kit but so far one decent effort and one massive miss.
9 – Crystal Palace
Two out of three is not too bad for Palace, who have had some shocking efforts in the past.
The home one is not going to win any awards for creativity but the fact they’ve gone for the same pattern across all three is somewhat notable.
The black away strip on the left looks sharp but the white one just seems to be a bit off.
South London & Proud.
🥁 Introducing our kit for the 20/21 season. #CPFC
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 7, 2020
8 – Leicester
The Foxes have covered all their bases with their three kits for the coming season, they’ve got a mix of colours and… somewhat brutally, quality.
Unfortunately for them, the home shirt that we’ll be seeing a lot of this season is bang average with a strange shoulder pattern and the bulky sleeves which seem to have made their way onto a lot of jerseys this season.
Another look at the new 2020/21 #lcfc home shirt, featuring Thailand Smiles With You 🇹🇭💙 pic.twitter.com/YYaMRvarNe
— Leicester City (@LCFC) July 23, 2020
On the positive side the away kit is clean, simple and quite frankly beautiful, even if Jamie Vardy looks a little bit underwhelmed…
Which is your favourite new #lcfc away kit? pic.twitter.com/ldcRInPvxG
— Leicester City (@LCFC) August 26, 2020
Then there’s this maroon third kit which is… certainly something… just not all that great.
Which is your favourite new #lcfc away kit? pic.twitter.com/ldcRInPvxG
— Leicester City (@LCFC) August 26, 2020
So in short, Leicester’s kits this season really do fulfill all of the “good, bad and indifferent” range of emotions.
7 – Aston Villa
One of the Premier League’s three claret and blue colour schemes, the Villains have nailed their two kits so far this season.
This home one follows a simple, classic pattern (even if McGinn looks like he’s holding his stomach in) and looks phenomenal with the vertical stripes.
𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗘𝗥 @JMcGinn7 in our 🆕 @Kappa_UK home kit! 🤩#AVFC pic.twitter.com/LKmqsJQgVz
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 2, 2020
An all black away kit is always a big winner and Villa’s looks incredible sharp… mostly.
If it wasn’t for the oddly baggy sleeves this would have had a stronger case for the top spot.
📸 @EKonsa15
📸 @ConorHourihane
📸 @JMcGinn7 #AVFC pic.twitter.com/Rae8fzldgq— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 21, 2020
6 – Sheffield United
The Blades have not strayed too far from their traditions with this design, opting for a familiar pattern as they look to build on a great season.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDyULDRF5cB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Originally the away shirt was going to drag the total score down but having had some time to look at it a bit more closely, it’s actually decent.
Bold in our belief. 🔥
The 2020/21 Sheffield United away kit, available in-store and online now.
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) August 10, 2020
5 – Leeds
Leeds are back in the Premier League, which is something everyone has been hoping for since Marcelo Bielsa took over at Elland Road.
They are back with this phenomenal effort evoking memories of the glory days featuring Kewell and Viduka.
😍 Back and looking good!#ReadyforSport pic.twitter.com/RfdHLgFFGX
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 19, 2020
On the away kit, it’s certainly different to the home strip but it would have been much better in a block colour instead of these weirdly similar stripes.
🔥 Ready For The Return
📅 On sale from 11.9.20.#ReadyForSport pic.twitter.com/YUTpzPMcNa— Leeds United (@LUFC) September 4, 2020
It’s tough to give Leeds a ranking because you have to love that home shirt but the away one just looks a bit… wrong for them.
4 – Fulham
The Cottagers are back in the Premier League after a season in the Championship and they have gone for a classic design ahead of this season.
There’s only so much you can do with a primarily white kit with black trim and they haven’t tried to re-invent the wheel.
Woven in history.
Showcasing the intricate details. ⚪️#FFC pic.twitter.com/27wt6Lryc2
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) September 7, 2020
An all yellow away kit is certainly… bright and the white trim does get lost but considering some of the other Adidas efforts this one isn’t too bad.
It’s too safe to really be any higher but it’s a pretty good effort for this year.
A further inspection of our @adidasfootball Away. 🟡#FFC pic.twitter.com/ODm48x6SD4
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) September 7, 2020
3 – Everton
Everton made a splash this week signing James Rodriguez from Real Madrid and he will look excellent in all three of Everton’s kits for this season.
The home blue and white kit is a classic and Hummel have opted not to mess with that style which was smart.
The yellow and blue away will certainly stand out, as will the unique green design for the third kit.
🤩 | My favourite 2020/21 kit is ______.@hummel1923 #MoreThanEleven
— Everton (@Everton) August 27, 2020
2 – West Ham
It’s a shame West Ham seem consigned to another relegation battle this season because they will look excellent in this triumvirate of kits.
Umbro have opted to go back to the “farewell Boleyn Ground” style for the home kit and mercifully, that horrendous onesie look from last season has been ditched with a return to the white shorts.
There’s not a lot to hate about this kit at all.
Introducing our Commemorative 125th Anniversary Home Kit… #125Together
— West Ham United (@WestHam) June 29, 2020
It’s much the same for the away kit with a classy sky blue style and some claret trim.
Another home run.
Introducing our new 2020/21 Away Kit… ⚒ #125Together pic.twitter.com/Juqmmm27V9
— West Ham United (@WestHam) July 17, 2020
Then there is the third kit which might just be the best individual design in the Premier League this season.
⚒ Celebrating 125 years of West Ham United ⚒
Click the link below to buy our 20/21 Third Kit ⬇️
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 28, 2020
It was a tight race but it took something truly special to outrank these kits.
1 – Brighton and Hove Albion
The Seagulls only narrowly escaped relegation last season, but we should all be glad these beauties are gracing the Premier League this coming season.
On the home kit they have ditched the half and half stripes for a primarily blue shirt with white pinstripes and a white collar.
Sometimes when teams go for a different style to what we are used to it backfires and they get plenty of flak but Brighton have nailed it here.
😁 Happy?
Sorry to keep you waiting, these things take time…#BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/zVjdV5nyFo
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) July 27, 2020
As for the away kit, it follows with Brighton’s traditional plan of having a yellow alternate strip and there’s not a lot to hate about this one either.
If you want to nitpick the neck looks a bit odd but really, if that’s the only issue you can find with it, it says it all doesn’t it?
😁 Another retake on a classic 1980s design.
Introducing our 2020/21 away kit. 😍
Available online now and in store at the Amex from 12pm today to match ticket holders!
🛍 Buy it now: https://t.co/yRBsRi2WMy.
#BHAFC 💛 pic.twitter.com/wuPBzNVOt6— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 29, 2020