Premier League 2019-20 review: The most improved and declined teams of the season 

The Premier League teams whose fortunes changed most dramatically this season (cont'd)

Improved – Burnley

Pope was the undoubted star of the campaign

2019/20 Standings - 10th, 54 points; 2018/19 Standings - 15th, 40 points

A similar story to Southampton, Burnley flirted with relegation last Premier League season but looked a completely different side this time around, finishing 10th with 54 points, a joint club record in the Premier League era.

With 15 wins in the top flight, they also broke their previous win record of 14 – a truly wonderful season for Dyche and his men.

15 - Burnley have already won more Premier League games this season than they have in any other of their campaigns in the competition (15). Meanwhile, if they avoid defeat in this match they’ll set a new club record points total for a single Premier League campaign. Respect. pic.twitter.com/Y2K6XxdmcQ

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 26, 2020

Sean Dyche deserves a lot of credit for the performances this season aided by the brilliance of Nick Pope in goal. The England goalkeeper was just one clean sheet away from becoming the first keeper from a non-top-six side to win the prestigious Golden Glove award in the Premier League.

Notable results include their first-ever win at Old Trafford and a memorable draw at Anfield which denied the Champions a clean sweep at home this season.

---

Declined – Watford

Watford's managerial chaos ended in relegation

2019/20 Standings - 19th, 34 points; 2018/19 Standings - 11th, 50 points

Watford’s five-year stay in the Premier League came to an end in 2020, a tumultuous season in which no less than three managers came and went.

The managerial carousel has always been a feature at the Vicarage Road since the Pozzo family took charge of the club in 2012 with the Hornets having had 12 managerial appointments in the family’s eight-year spell.

3 - Watford are the first side in Premier League history to see three permanent managers leave during a single season. Carousel. pic.twitter.com/U1Xjgxu5bP

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 19, 2020

Watford enjoyed their most successful campaign last year as they finished 11th in the league with 50 points and reached the FA Cup Final. Twelve months on, almost an identical team are heading down to the Championship – a chaotic decline.

Nigel Pearson, who masterminded victories over Manchester United and Liverpool this season, was unceremoniously sacked just two games before the end of the campaign, as Watford needed just a couple of points for survival.