Some bright spots in a season like no other in Premier League

Some bright spots in a season like no other in Premier League

The 2020-21 football season in England will certainly go down as one of the strangest in history.

That they managed to even complete the season, considering all the restrictions prompted by Covid-19, is amazing in itself and a tribute to the clubs and players.

It could not have been much fun playing in empty stadiums.

Last Sunday, when a limited number of fans were allowed, proved a reminder of what we had been missing.

Hearing real crowds cheering, jeering, booing and singing was arguably the best moment of the season.

The battle to get into the last four of the Premier League provided the main excitement on the final day and Chelsea can consider themselves extremely fortunate to have made it despite losing to Aston Villa.

When was the last time Chelsea fans cheered a Tottenham victory?

Leicester City, who were in the top four nearly all season, can consider themselves unlucky in just missing out after a 4-2 home loss to Spurs.

However, Foxes fans should not feel too dispirited. An FA Cup triumph and fifth place in the league is not too shabby.

Their "Thailand Smiles With You" shirts also sent a positive message, unlike clubs advertising gambling companies.

Manager Pep Guardiola deserves all the accolades on his achievement with Manchester City.

It is easy to forget that City were struggling in the first part of the season. His emotional interview after the game last Sunday showed what a strain it had been.

Guardiola called it his "toughest" campaign and one of the most gruelling seasons he had ever experienced.

But the final day could not have been scripted better, with Sergio Aguero coming on to score a brace of fine farewell goals in front of the fans in the 5-0 romp over Everton.

His Panenka penalty gaffe of the previous week was all but forgotten.

City rivals United enjoyed a better season than anticipated but it was ultimately frustrating with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having to settle for runners-up spot in the league and in the Europa League.

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp also deserves acknowledgement for turning around the Reds' fortunes.

After Virgil van Dijk's season-ending injury, there came that extraordinary string of six losses in a row at Anfield.

But they struck form just at the right time, highlighted by one of the most amazing last-gasp winning strikes ever witnessed from goalkeeper Alisson Becker. That was Roy of the Rovers stuff.

At West Ham, boss David Moyes transformed last season's strugglers into an attractive and effective outfit.

His loan signing of Jesse Lingard from Manchester United proved inspirational, giving pace and firepower to the squad.

A special word for West Ham striker Michail Antonio who played his heart out the whole season. The tricky part for Moyes is maintaining this standard next season.

You cannot ignore Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa.

Eccentric he may be, but the attacking style of play he promotes is a delight to watch.

For a newly-promoted team, Leeds looked comfortable in the top flight and a ninth place finish is no more than they deserved.

This season featured attacking play from nearly all of the clubs.

There was a noticeable flood of goals at the start of the season, partly due to wobbly defences.

But no one could have predicted that on the same Sunday results would include Manchester United thrashed 6-1 at home by Tottenham and Aston Villa walloping defending champions Liverpool 7-2.

Things settled down a bit after that but there was hardly a week without a surprise result in the Premier League.

Speaking of Spurs, Jose Mourinho came and went and nobody wept.

Tottenham striker Harry Kane proved he is still the sharpest in the business, but who he will be playing for next season is not clear.

One of the most enjoyable players to watch was Newcastle midfielder Allan Saint-Maximin.

Every time he touches the ball something happens. He is a born crowd-pleaser, something Newcastle have been lacking for so long.

It is no coincidence that Newcastle hauled themselves out of trouble, finishing in 12th place, when the Frenchman returned from a lengthy injury, ably supported by injury-prone prone Callum Wilson.

Then there was Joe Willock, on loan from Arsenal, who scored seven times in seven games.

A goal-scoring midfielder just what the Magpies want, but can they keep him?

There is usually a healthy relegation battle in the Premier League but it did not materialise with the fate of Fulham, West Brom and Sheffield United being pretty much sealed well before the season ended.

Finally, congratulations to Sutton United on winning promotion to the Football League for the first time in their 123-year history, a huge achievement.

The South London club are better known for upsetting big clubs in the FA Cup and their victory over powerful Coventry in 1989 is the stuff of legend.

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