Premier League, 2021 (2020-21)

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Premier League - Season Review 2020-21

  • The 2020-21 Premier League was the 29th season in the competition's history.
  • With their third title in the last four seasons, Manchester City won a fifth Premier League title as they became England's league champions for the seventh time.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic continued to have a major impact though. Due to the late finish in 2019-20, the new campaign began on 12 September 2020 and the winter break was scrapped.
  • It wasn't until 2 December 2020 that a restricted number of supporters were allowed to attend games. This was suspended on 4 January 2021 as a third national lockdown was declared. As restrictions were eased, the final two rounds of games in May 2021 could be attended by a maximum of 10,000 supporters or 25% of stadium capacity. No away supporters were permitted.
  • The total attendance at the 29 games that were allowed supporters was 136,158: an average of 4,695.
  • This was the second season that the Premier League had featured the use of video assistant referees (VAR).
  • Six different teams had led the division by the turn of the year before Liverpool established a five-point lead at the top. However, the reigning champions suffered a poor run of form and slumped to 8th position in March.
  • By this time, Manchester City had won 15 consecutive games to head second-placed Manchester United by 15 points. They clinched the title on 12 May with three games to play.
  • Liverpool's form recovered as they clinched the other UEFA Champions League place, along with United and Chelsea.
  • Despite being in the top four for most of the season, three defeats in their last four games saw Leicester City miss out and, therefore, qualified for the UEFA Europa League. They were joined by sixth-placed West Ham United who just avoided relegation in the previous campaign.
  • Tottenham Hotspur, who sacked manager José Mourinho in April as they dropped out of the top six, qualified for the new third-tier European competition, the UEFA Europa Conference League.
  • North London rivals Arsenal failed to qualify for European competition for the first time since 1994-95.
  • Leeds United finished with the highest points total for a newly-promoted team (59) since Ipswich Town in 2000-01.
  • With the three games to play, both Fulham and West Bromwich Albion were relegated and made an immediate return to the Championship.
  • Sheffield United didn't record their first win until their 18th game. Their relegation was confirmed on 17 April with six games still to play.
  • Pep Guardiola was named League Managers' Association Manager of the Year and the Premier League's Manager of the Season.
  • Manchester City's Rúben Dias was voted the Premier League's Player of the Season and the Football Writers' Association's Footballer of the Year award.
  • Team-mate Kevin De Bruyne became the first player to win the PFA Players' Player of the Year award in consecutive seasons since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2007-08.
  • City's Phil Foden was named Premier League Young Player of the Season and PFA Young Player of the Year.
  • Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur won the Golden Boot award with 23 goals.
  • Erik Lamela won the Premier League's Goal of the Season award (for Tottenham Hotspur versus Arsenal on 14 March 2021).
  • The PFA Premier League Team of the Year was:
  • Ederson (Manchester City)
  • Joao Cancelo (Manchester City), John Stones (Manchester City), Rúben Dias (Manchester City), Luke Shaw (Manchester United)
  • Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City)
  • Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), SON Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)