The Premier League run in: Part II – Midtable
Josh McNally
Europe;

Writer's note: This is the second part of CGTN's look at the end of the 2019-20 Premier League season. The first part, which focused on the contenders for European tournaments, can be found here.

8. Burnley

Sean Dyche has turned Burnley FC around since he was appointed manager in 2012 and his ability to keep such a small team up in the English Premier League (EPL) – even if by the skin of their teeth – should be handsomely rewarded. Instead, news of infighting between Dyche and the club chairman Mike Garlick has come to light.

Garlick has always run a tight ship, and while that works in the Championship, in the EPL it's a different matter. Three players have already left and the contracts of seven more expire this season. Unless the Clarets get a great run of form and everyone above capitulates, there won't be enough money to keep them together – nor to build on this incredibly successful run.

Sheffield United's John Egan challenges Newcastle United's Joelinton leading to a second yellow card during the Premier League match at St. James' Park, Newcastle, UK on June 21, 2020. /CFP

Sheffield United's John Egan challenges Newcastle United's Joelinton leading to a second yellow card during the Premier League match at St. James' Park, Newcastle, UK on June 21, 2020. /CFP

9. Sheffield United

In their first EPL season in over a decade, Sheffield United has been special. With as many draws as wins – including a spectacular 3-3 against Manchester United last year – they've managed to punch above their weight and maintain a high enough position that top flight football is guaranteed in 2020-21.

Unfortunately, it looks like the lockdown has taken the wind out of their sails. The last two games were 3-0 losses, the biggest suffered all season, and four of their final seven fixtures are against bigger teams. They're a point behind Burnley and Jack O'Connell and John Fleck should be fit and healthy soon so a few more points are definitely up for grabs.

10. Arsenal

If you're a certain age, there's already a concept of Arsenal in your mind. At best, it's of The Invincibles in the 2003/04 season, at worst, it's of jokes about the Arsene Wenger Title, the award Arsenal thought they won by coming fourth place for all those years. Either way, the Arsenal of the post-Wenger era is very different. The failure of Unai Emery – not the only ex-European champion to be exposed this season – has caused the Gunners to drop out of trophy contention and to almost lose their status as a "big club."

New manager Mikel Arteta seemingly can't wait for the season to end so he can begin his quiet revolution and rebuild the squad into something more to his liking. First and foremost, that has to be the ejection of David Luiz, who is with the team on a one year loan and has been nothing but a complete disaster.

Crystal Palace's Jordan Ayew (Number 9) scores his side's second goal the Premier League match against AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, UK on June 20, 2020. /CFP

Crystal Palace's Jordan Ayew (Number 9) scores his side's second goal the Premier League match against AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, UK on June 20, 2020. /CFP

11. Crystal Palace

Roy Hodgon's Crystal Palace has been a grinder all year. With the exception of two 4-0 losses to Tottenham and Liverpool, which arrived at the beginning and restart of the season respectively, they've been grabbing draws, wins by small margins and were on something of a tear before the break. Now, judging by the capitulation against Burnley in their last game (as of time of writing), they're acting like their season is already over.

As with the rest of this bunch, Palace only separated from the team above by a point, and with a run in that includes Leicester City, Wolves and Chelsea, the chance of climbing the table is small, especially with the fitness of Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke uncertain.

12. Everton

Time is a flat circle for Everton. A new manager almost achieves glory, nearly achieves it and then in the following seasons, they never recover. Marco Silva, who had a major reputation after winning Super League Greece with Olympiacos, took Everton to the coveted eighth spot in the EPL in the 2018-19 season and promised to crack Europe this year; instead Everton were in the relegation zone by December and he was turfed out after a 5-2 hammering in the Merseyside Derby. "Big" Duncan Ferguson got his moment of glory with an immediate win against Chelsea and then soon Carlo Ancelotti was hired for the permanent job.

As with Arsenal, Ancelotti clearly wants to wrap everything up so he can hire and fire in the upcoming transfer window. There is already talk of Barcelona's Jean-Clair Todibo and Torino's Ola Aina making moves to Goodison Park.

Danny Ings of Southampton celebrates after scoring his second goal against Watford FC in their Premier League match at Vicarage Road in Watford, UK on June 28, 2020. /CFP

Danny Ings of Southampton celebrates after scoring his second goal against Watford FC in their Premier League match at Vicarage Road in Watford, UK on June 28, 2020. /CFP

13. Southampton

The Saints' season can be summed up by a single result: 0-9 against Leicester at home in the pouring rain. Ralph Hasenhuttl's side probably wanted to forfeit the season then and there – and if it wasn't for a cheeky run of four wins and a draw around the end of 2019, we could say they did. With how they have been otherwise, they're lucky to be 13 points clear of relegation.

Two surprising, decisive wins out of three since the resumption of play suggest Southampton isn't going to take the run in lying down. Danny Ings is the only player in the league who can be described as having any actual form and, if they try like in the match versus Watford, points are available in their last three fixtures.

14. Newcastle United

An apocalyptic start for the Magpies was righted by manager Steve Bruce by October but, since, wins have been few and far between. Play has been grim so it's no surprise the sports world has instead focused on stories of a potential buyout coming from WWE's Vince McMahon or a Saudi prince.

They're 12 points above the drop and managed to beat Sheffield in the first game back, so perhaps their position can be maintained, but with a stretch that includes matches against Manchester City, Tottenham and concludes with Liverpool on the final day, it will be very difficult.