The dirtiest teams in Premier League history have been revealed with Chelsea and Derby County topping the charts.

The study, which looks at the amount of red cards and yellow cards picked up by all 49 teams over the competition’s 27 year history, ranks teams either by total cards given or average cards per game.

Everton, Arsenal, Spurs, Manchester United and West Ham join Chelsea in the teams with the most cards picked up in the top flight.

For teams averaging the highest for bookings and sendings off per game during their time in the Premier League, Derby are followed by Sunderland, Hull, Watford, Barnsley and Stoke.

Liverpool, while coming out relatively high in total yellow and red cards due to the number of seasons spent at the top, actually rate as one of the more disciplined sides in terms of average cards per game.

For the last three seasons in a row Jurgen Klopp’s side have ahd the lowest average bookings or sendings off per game from all 20 teams.

The study, conducted by spread betting firm Spreadex, is based on Team Bookings Points of 10 points per yellow card and 25 points per red card for every game played by every side in the Premier League.

Spreadex spokesman Andy MacKenzie said: “Hardmen such as Dennis Wise (64 yellows and 4 reds at Chelsea) and John Terry (69 yellows and 6 reds at Chelsea) contributed to the Blues topping the table.

“However as it’s the teams that have played longest in the Premier League that have accumulated most Bookings Points, the Average Points Per Game table is perhaps more telling.

“Tough tackling players such as Robbie Savage (Premier League total of 89 yellows and 1 red), Lee Cattermole (Premier League total of 88 yellows and 7 reds) and George Boateng (Premier League total of 85 yellows and 5 reds) played their part in Derby, Sunderland and Hull ranking so highly during their spells with the respective clubs.

At the other end of the table, Oldham, Swindon and Blackpool – who have totalled just four seasons in the Prem between them – are among the bottom six ‘cleanest sides’, suggesting they were perhaps just a bit too nice to stay in the top flight. “Liverpool though are proof that you can keep it clean and still play impressive football. Jurgen Klopp’s side have had the lowest Bookings Points for the last three seasons in a row and this term average just a measly 8.8 per game at less than a booking per match so far from 8 games played.”