Premier League: What we’ve learned about each team since season restarted

After a lengthy wait, the Premier League finally returned, with Burnley the only side yet to feature.

While the league has yet to fully get back into gear, and games without fans in attendance will take some getting used to, there have been some intriguing encounters so far, with teams enduring mixed fortunes.

Here, Sportsmail takes a look at how each team has got on since the restart.

There have been 11 games so far since the Premier League’s long-awaited return to action

Arsenal – Restart disaster

Arsenal were the only unbeaten team in the Premier League in 2020, but have lost their first two games since the restart.

Mikel Arteta had not tasted defeat in his first seven away games at the club, but lost twice on his travels in less than 72 hours.

The Brighton defeat was Arsenal’s first at 3pm on a Saturday in five years.

Arsenal, who lost Bernd Leno to injury, have suffered two defeats since the league’s restart

Aston Villa – Throwing it away

Aston Villa’s defeat by Chelsea on Sunday was the fifth Premier League game they have lost this season after scoring the first goal — two more than any other top-flight side.

Villa have now failed to win any of their last 21 Premier League matches against teams starting the day in the top four.

Bournemouth – Defensive crisis

Bournemouth have lost seven Premier League games in 2020. No side has a worse record in the calendar year than Eddie Howe’s men.

The Cherries haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last 13 Premier League games, conceding 25. Their five-year spell in the Premier League is under serious threat.

Bournemouth are struggling defensively, with Eddie Howe’s side in danger of being relegated

Brighton – A fresh start?

Brighton were the only winless Premier League side in 2020 before beating Arsenal on Saturday.

On top of this, the victory was only the second time in 58 Premier League matches that Brighton had come back to win after conceding the first goal. The victory was Brighton’s 100th at the Amex Stadium.

Burnley – Plucky underdogs

Burnley, who play Manchester City on Monday night, are on the longest unbeaten run in the division.

The Clarets haven’t lost in seven games, since January 11 — that’s 163 days ago.

If they beat City on Monday night, they will become just the fourth team to win at both Manchester clubs in a Premier League season.

Burnley are on the longest unbeaten run in the division ahead of the clash v Manchester City

Chelsea – Giroud’s hot streak

The Blues are four games unbeaten and Sunday’s victory was a 10th in their last 11 Premier League matches against Aston Villa.

Manager Frank Lampard was wise to pick Olivier Giroud at Villa Park — the Frenchman has now scored in each of his last seven games against Villa, scoring nine times.

Crystal Palace – Quick out the blocks

Crystal Palace were 2-0 up inside 23 minutes of the restart — the first time all season that they had scored more than once in the first half.

On top of that, this was the first time since Boxing Day last year that more than one Palace player had scored in a Premier League game (Luka Milivojevic and Jordan Ayew).

Crystal Palace were 2-0 up against Bournemouth within 23 minutes of their return to action

Everton – Mid-table mediocrity

It’s nearly 10 years since Everton’s last victory over Liverpool.

The stalemate at Goodison on Sunday means Everton are on a four-game winless run in the Premier League.

They are in 13th spot and manager Carlo Ancelotti will have to call on all his experience to fire Everton up the table towards respectability.

Leicester – Slowly stagnating?

Leicester have only won four of their last 14 Premier League games and main man Jamie Vardy has only found the net in one game since Christmas.

They had won 12 of their previous 14 matches before that. The fourth-placed Foxes are eight points clear of fifth — but will that be enough to keep their rivals at bay?

Jamie Vardy has only scored in one game since Christmas amid fears Leicester are stagnating

Liverpool – They’re almost there

Liverpool dropped points for only the third time this season on Sunday, but their relentless march towards a first title in 30 years surely won’t be halted.

They need 18 points from their remaining eight games to break Manchester City’s record 100-point season in 2017-18… don’t bet against it.

Manchester City – Delaying the inevitable

City have scored more goals than runaway leaders Liverpool but have been way behind the champions-elect in all other departments.

Six points clear of third place, their main aim in the league will be to delay Liverpool’s coronation for as long as possible.

A first Champions League triumph remains a possibility…

Manchester City are attempting to delay Liverpool’s inevitable Premier League title triumph

Manchester United – On the charge

United are unbeaten in 12 in all competitions — scoring 30 goals and conceding just three.

It is well within their reach to qualify for the Champions League — but if they do miss out it will be the first time since 1992-93 and 1993-94 that they have missed out in consecutive seasons on the Champions League proper.

Newcastle – No fans, no problem!

A lot is made of the support Newcastle enjoy when playing at home… but their biggest league win of the season so far came in their first game without any fans in the ground.

Newcastle are now unbeaten in four Premier League home games and they haven’t conceded a goal in those matches.

Newcastle got their biggest league victory of the season without any supporters in attendance

Norwich – Writing on the wall

Norwich have failed to score in six of their last nine Premier League games — netting just three goals across those matches.

Manager Daniel Farke has lost 19 of his first 30 games in the competition. Only Graham Taylor (21) and Mick McCarthy (26) have lost more of their first 30 games in the competition.

Sheffield United – Toothless in attack

Sheffield United hadn’t failed to score in a Premier League game since January v Manchester City.

Now they’ve done it twice in two games since the return.

Only five teams have scored fewer goals in the Premier League this season. Sunday’s loss was their third defeat in their last six away games.

Sheffield United have been toothless in attack in their two games since their return to action

Southampton – Change of fortune

Danny Ings entered lockdown in a slump of one goal in seven league games, but scored the opener at Norwich on Saturday.

If Saints finish in the top half they will be the first team to concede nine goals in a top-flight game and still finish in the top half since Nottingham Forest in 1962-63.

Tottenham – Worrying times

Tottenham are winless in seven games in all competitions — their worst run since November 2016 (also seven games without a win).

If Tottenham and Arsenal both fail to qualify for the Champions League, next season would be the first without at least one of them in the competition since 1997-98.

Tottenham are currently without a victory in seven games across all competitions

Watford – Survival is touch and go

Watford have won just one of their last eight Premier League games — after winning four of their five games before that. Saturday’s draw moved them up to 16th, but they are still only a point clear of relegation.

An 11-game winless run at the start of the season could well come back to sting the Hornets…

West Ham – Sinking ship?

The Hammers have won just one of their last 10 Premier League games.

The London club are only outside the relegation zone on goal difference and only Aston Villa and Norwich have conceded more goals than them this season.

You wouldn’t bet against another season in the Championship.