5 Premier League Teams Dramatically Better Since The Restart (And 5 Much Worse)

Crystal Palace were always looking at a season of mid-table mediocrity, so their 14th placing doesn't initially appear too disastrous. That is until you compare their pre- and post-lockdown form.

Before the break Palace were 11th and still in with an outside chance of a Europa League slot, sitting just two points behind eventual European qualifiers Tottenham. Since the return of football, however, the extent of the Eagles' poor record is second only to bottom club Norwich.

Palace won their first game back, a 2-0 victory over relegation strugglers Bournemouth, but followed that with eight games without a win. If Man City's excellent form since the break promises much for a new season that follows so quickly from this one, then the opposite must also be true for a Palace side concluding the 2019-20 campaign with five consecutive defeats.

The constant speculation over Wilfred Zaha's future has not been good for the Ivorian winger's form. And with those lacklustre performances from their most gifted player, the rest of Roy Hodgson's team have struggled to pull together. Zaha is almost certain to leave anyway over the summer, but without an obvious replacement the coming year may be a tough one for Palace.