5 Premier League Teams Dramatically Better Since The Restart (And 5 Much Worse)
3. Better - Southampton
Narrowly avoiding the drop last time around, Southampton's early season form looked to set them up for more of the same this year.
There was of course the humiliation of that 9-0 defeat to Leicester at home at the St Mary's Stadium. But that wasn't Saints' only failure in front of their own fans. In fact, going into the break they had the worst home record in the whole league.
Perhaps Southampton are just better off without the scrutiny of the St Mary's faithful. Because since football has gone behind closed doors their form has shot up. With 18 points from nine games, Southampton had the best post-lockdown record outside of Manchester.
One of the few teams to get something against Man City since the break, Saints gave a stellar performance in front of empty home stands to win 1-0. Che Adams, the £15 million striker yet to net a single time before the break, scored the winner with an audacious 40 yard chip. Having broken his duck, Adams scored three more times in July.
His strike partner Danny Ings scored seven in nine games since the break to bring him within one goal of Golden Boot winner Jamie Vardy.
Saints returned from the break with their Premier League safety yet to be secured. They ended the season in an impressively comfortable 11th and with plenty for manager Ralph Hasenhüttl to build on going into the new campaign.