It was an unusual season in the Premier League due to COVID-19, but we reached the finish line. Man City were crowned champions, Man United, Liverpool and Chelsea will join them in the Champions League, and Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham suffered relegation. There was also great disappointment at Arsenal and Spurs, unexpected European qualifiers in West Ham, four managerial changes and even an all-English Champions League final, won by Chelsea.
With the dust and drama now settled, Ian Darke takes a closer look at each Premier League club and grades them for their performance over the 2020-21 campaign.
Arsenal: A run of five straight wins to close the campaign can’t mask another very disappointing season for the Gunners. An eighth-place finish means no European football for the first time in 25 years, which will serve as a huge blow to the finances and reputation of the famous club. Mikel Arteta will not survive another year like this, while fans continue to hope absentee owner Stan Kroenke sells the club or finances some major signings to change the mood. Grade: D+
Aston Villa: An early 7-2 win over Liverpool served notice that Villa were a different proposition this season. Aided by Jack Grealish‘s magic and 14 goals from Ollie Watkins in his debut Premier League season, Dean Smith’s team were lively in attack and tough enough in defence for a comfortable midtable finish. Can they fight off transfer interest in Grealish again? Grade: B+
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Brighton Hove Albion: Graham Potter’s side were often a delight to watch, but still battled relegation for most of the season. A league-high 14 draws and a failure to convert chances held them back, though keeper Robert Sanchez, and defenders Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster and Ben White, made them hard to beat. Midfielder Yves Bissouma is a target for bigger clubs and they definitely need to find a goal poacher. Grade: B-
Burnley: Recovered well from a dreadful start once they got key players fit again and, despite finishing 17th, they were 11 points clear of relegation. The unquestioned highlight of the season came in January when they improbably ended Liverpool’s 68-game unbeaten run at Anfield thanks to a late Ashley Barnes penalty. It remains to be seen if a low-key takeover will change things at a club who look to be staying afloat as long as Sean Dyche is there to keep this band of brothers together. Grade: C
Chelsea: Produced an inspired tactical performance to foil Man City in the Champions League final. It rather looks as if, for the moment at least, Thomas Tuchel has Pep Guardiola’s number: that was his third win over City in six weeks. Only an FA Cup final defeat to Leicester City blotted Tuchel’s stellar start at Stamford Bridge. Grade: A
Crystal Palace: The security and stability that the departing Roy Hodgson brought to Palace was reflected in a comfortable 14th-place finish. Wilfried Zaha scored a career-best 11 goals and new arrival Eberechi Eze added much-needed flair. With 11 players out of contract and a new boss to be appointed, it will be a very different-looking Eagles side next season. Grade: C
