THE Premier League season came to a thrilling end on Sunday in a dramatic final day.
Aston Villa somehow pulled off a great escape to avoid a trip to the Championship.
Man Utd stole a Champions League spot on the final day of the seasonCredit: The Mega Agency
Manchester United and Chelsea overthrew Leicester, who fell apart post-lockdown, to grab the final Champions League spots.
And then there’s Arsenal and Tottenham… but more on them later.
Before we turn our attention to 2020-21 and the inevitable transfer rumours, take a look back at ten barely-believable stats from the season that was…
ST TOTTERINGHAM’S NAY
Spurs endured their worst season in 11 years and still finished above ArsenalCredit: AP:Associated Press
TOTTENHAM finished the season with a raucous celebration as they snatched sixth to book a spot in next season’s Europa League.
Many joked Jose Mourinho’s standards had slipped drastically – but, then again, he did drag the club kicking and screaming up from 14th to reach the European spots.
Despite that, Spurs’ total points tally of just 59 points was their lowest tally in 11 YEARS, back in the 2008-09 season.
And yet, they still finished above Arsenal…
ALISSON BETTER
Alisson racked up as many league assists in 2019-20 as Raheem SterlingCredit: AP:Associated Press
LIVERPOOL stormed to their first-ever Premier League title, beating Manchester City by 18 points.
But that’s not even the weirdest stat…
Incredibly, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson notched the SAME number of assists as City forward Raheem Sterling, with one.
On top of that, Sterling played four MORE matches due to the Brazilian stopper’s injury early in the season.
There can be no criticisms of Sterling’s eye for goal, having scored a staggering 20 times in the league in 2019-20… but he might want to share some of the assist-burden with Kevin De Bruyne in future.
MAN ALIVE
Man Utd actually endured a slightly WORSE season in 2019-20 than 2018-19Credit: AFP or licensors
MANCHESTER UNITED were infinitely better in 2019-20 than in 2018-19, right? Wrong.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer led the club to 66 points in BOTH seasons, having taken over midway through the 2018-19 campaign.
On top of that, United actually scored three goals FEWER this season, despite their front-three of Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial being lauded as the best in the world by overly-enthusiastic fans.
It’s worth remembering Man Utd were actually “in the race to avoid relegation” early this season, according to some pundits.
The arrival of Bruno Fernandes has certainly boosted the team, but there’s work to be done before they can possibly challenge for the title again.
GOLDEN OLDIE
Jamie Vardy is the oldest player to ever win the PL Golden BootCredit: Getty Images – Getty
JAMIE VARDY has long been tipped with having his life turned into a movie.
Having been working in a factory aged 24, the ex-England man won the Premier League title in shock fashion with Leicester in 2015-16.
Now, at 33 years and 198 days, Vardy has become the OLDEST winner of the Golden Boot in Premier League history, surpassing Didier Drogba.
Vardy scored 23 goals as Leicester finished fifth in 2019-20.
SAINTS vs SINNERS
Southampton earned more points than Leicester ever since their 9-0 loss in OctoberCredit: Getty Images – Getty
LEICESTER looked dead-certs for a Champions League spot next season around Christmas.
In October, the Foxes thumped Southampton 9-0 in a scarcely-believable game.
But since then, Leicester’s form completely capitulated, seeing a 14-point lead over the chasing pack evaporate.
After that fateful night in October, Southampton picked up MORE points (44) than Leicester (42) to put in perspective just how far Brendan Rodgers’ men fell.
NU-NO HOMEGROWN HEROES
Wolves netted 51 times in 2019-20, but had no English scorers all seasonCredit: Alamy Live News
WOLVES enjoyed a solid season, earning 59 points, finishing seventh – behind Tottenham only on goal difference.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men scored 51 times in their 38 games.
And yet of those 51 goals, not one of them was scored by an English player.
Raul Jimenez (17 )was the only player to reach double figures.
An incredible 12 players all scored in the league – but none were from England.
LOTTI PROBLEMS
Ancelotti finished in the bottom half for the first time in his 25-year careerCredit: AFP
CARLO ANCELOTTI has enjoyed a long and distinguished career.
The Italian has led the likes of AC Milan, Chelsea, Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
In 25 years as a manager, Ancelotti has never finished in the bottom half o the table… until now.
Ancelotti’s Everton finished the season down in 12th – five points off Burnley in tenth.
BOBBY LESS
Roberto Firmino scored just ONE home goal all seasonCredit: EPA
WINNING the league title by 18 points must mean your side has a 30-goal striker on the books, surely?
In Liverpool’s case, nothing could be further from the truth.
Roberto Firmino scored just nine goals in 2019-20 – with just ONE of those coming at Anfield.
Hugely underrated by casual football fans, Firmino’s skill brings Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and the rest of the Liverpool midfield into the game.
While Firmino may not be an out-and-out striker, his ability to play the “false nine” is unparalleled.
LINGARD OF HONOUR
Lingard scored in the last minute of the final day having gone goalless in 2019 and 2020 up until thenCredit: Getty Images – Getty
MAN UTD only booked their Champions League spot for next season on the final day of the season with a 2-0 win over Leicester.
Even then, United din’t kill the game off until the 98th minute.
And the goal came from the most-unlikely of sources… Jesse Lingard.
The midfielder failed to score a single goal in 2019 and looked set for a big, fat zero in the 2019-20 season.
But his strike with almost the last kick of the season means he scored more goals on the final day of the season than he did all of last year.
SPOOKY
Bournemouth, Watford and Norwich were relegated in the same order in which they had been promoted in 2014-15Credit: PA:Empics Sport
IN 2014-15, Bournemouth won promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their history, ahead of Watford and Norwich.
Incredibly, the same three teams were relegated in the SAME order in 2019-20.
Bournemouth ended up 18th, ahead of 19th-placed Watford and basement-boys Norwich.
Man Utd and Arsenal on transfer alert with Wilfried Zaha ‘so set on leaving Crystal Palace’, reveals Roy Hodgson
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
