Matchweek 21 is a unique Matchweek in the Premier League season, with the fixtures being split over two weekends to give each of the teams a mini “mid-season” winter break, there was five fixture played over the weekend of 12th to 14th January and the remaining five fixtures on 20th to 22nd January.
As always you can find last week Matchweek’s review – here
The current Kit Overview for Premier League is below, we now have all 60 shirts released… still waiting for confirmation of the shorts that will be used with Luton Town’s 3rd.
Matchweek 21 Fixtures
Total Kits Used
- Kits Worn in Total – 91 (+2 from Matchweek 20)
- Goalkeeper Kits – 57 (No Change from Matchweek 20)
New Kits this Matchweek
There were two new kit look on show through these fixtures.
Crystal Palace have worn their 3rd twice already this season, including the opening fixture back in August, however this is the first time that the kit has been worn in default look of all black, with the black socks getting the debut outing!
Nottingham Forest used their 3rd Kit with bespoke alternative orange shorts and socks for the first time this season in their game against Brentford, the overall look worked well with amount of orange in the shirt… a nice alternative and opens up more opportunities for mix and matching with the default navy blue shorts and socks.
Kit Highlights
Manchester United “Sock Watch”, it was the 2023 Adidas Teamwear socks again in the home game against Tottenham Hotspur, this seems to be the go to sock now for The Red Devils…
Wolverhampton Wanderers wore their away kit for only the second time this season and the first time since the third game of the season back in August against Everton, this also means they have worn Home, Away and 3rd Kits in their last three games!
My favourite Kit Match Up of this week was the match up between Brentford and Nottingham Forest, the alternative look against the classic Brentford kit worked well for me, I have seen comments that considered this to be a kit clash but I think there is enough destinction between the light and dark shorts and socks and in the shirts that this worked well under the lights of Gtech Community Stadium!
Kit Stats
Overall we have seen 14 Home Kits, 3 Away Kits and 3 3rd Kits in action in this Matchweek
There were four Kit Variation on show this week.
- Luton Town, Away Kit with Home Shorts and Socks, this is the 3rd time this look has been used
- Manchester United’s again in Black Teamwear Socks (with updated Adidas Logo), the 8th time they have been worn
- Aston Villa, Home Kit with alternative claret shorts and socks, the 2nd time for this look
- Nottingham Forest’s 3rd Kit with alternative shorts and socks (see above)
Kit Grid – Up to 23rd January 2024
Kit News
It is being widely reported that Aston Villa have signed “Major” Deal with Adidas, replacing Castore from next season. Aston Villa have been supplied by the many kit manufacturers over the years, however this would be the first time that they have worn the “Three Stripes” of Adidas and will be the second club to move from Castore to Adidas with Newcastle United also making that change from 2024/25 Season – Image from @TheShirtUnion
Manchester City have released a “Year of the Dragon” shirt to celebrate the Chinese New Year and it has been reported that this kit will be worn by both Men and Women’s teams at some point this season, with the kit having its own designed nameset I wonder if it will be a cup game that we see this kit, however with the Men away at Tottenham Hotspur in the 4th Round, its not likely to be that game.
Another interesting story that was being report at the end of last week was the potential introduction of “4th” Kits from 2024/25 season. It is not clear if this will be for every team but the reports suggested that one of Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur or Chelsea will have a 4th Kit available for regular use and not seen as a “Special Kit”.
So what we have seen with Crystal Palace and Arsenal this season may become the norm in future season within Premier League!
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or at @Kit_Geek
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Football Kit Geek - @Kit_Geek 