YOUR A-Z OF THE 2021 PREMIER LEAGUE

A is for… Arrivederci Ancelotti

Just when it looked as if Everton owner Farhad Moshiri had secured the A-list manager he wanted, Carlo Ancelotti said farewell to Goodison after Real Madrid came calling. B is for… Bielsa Ball It captured the imagination but will Bielsa drop the ball in the fight to survive?

C is for… Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portuguese star’s return to Manchester United certainly brought increased expectations of a title challenge. It hasn’t materialised, so what will 2022 bring? D is for… Desperate measures

Sean Dyche has made Burnley a stable Premier League force but his side have the most clearances off the line this season (five) and were second in the charts last season (eight).

E is for… English hopefuls

There were four English players on the Ballon d’or shortlist this year. Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount and Phil Foden. F is for… Fans The start of this season saw the return of full stadiums. It has been a reminder of what was missing during the Covid lockout.

G is for… Geordie Arabia

Steve Bruce (below) won manager of the month in April as Newcastle survived relegation, but once the Saudi takeover was completed he was shown the door. A new era beckons. H is for… Homegrown Heroes

There were over 40 debuts handed out to youngsters who come under the ‘homegrown’ category this year. Some, like Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho, aren’t quite a success story for the club’s academy but others, like Norwich’s Andrew Omobamidele, who scored on his full home debut in the top flight, deserve to be celebrated. I is for… Italians They may have won the European Championships but just two Italians have scored in the Premier

League this year – Chelsea’s Jorginho and West Ham’s Angelo Ogbonna. J is for… Joy at Wembley

Leicester (above) celebrated their FA Cup final win over Chelsea with all the gusto you would expect for a club that had never won it before.

K is for… Kick in the teeth

But it was Chelsea who finished one point above the Foxes to qualify for the Champions League. L is for… Leaving on his terms

The manner in which Ole Gunnar Solskjaer eventually departed Manchester United won’t be forgotten. At his behest, he gave an exit interview so he could “leave through the front door”.

By

David Sneyd

MPis for… Moyesiah How else to describe the job David Moyes has done with West Ham United? His managerial renaissance has continued to impress. N is for… No contest Manchester City romped to the title, leading United in second by 12 points, the perfect response after Liverpool clinched it in 2020.

O is for… One Hundred Million

Jack Grealish

(left) became the £100m man when Manchester City prised him away from boyhood club Aston Villa. is for… Protests The way in which supporters united in scorn for the Super League proposals was heartening, and the sight of Old Trafford being overrun with angry fans protesting the Glazer ownership – leading to the postponement of the game with Liverpool – defined the anger.

Q is for… Quality control

Sergio Aguero bid farewell to the Premier League in 2021, signing off by lifting the Premier League trophy – and also boasting the highest percentage of shots on target with 58.8 per cent. R is for… Rabona

If you find yourself deep in contemplation this festive period, then rewatching Erik Lamela’s sublime rabona (with added nutmeg to coincide with this time of year) goal against Arsenal is all you need to lift your spirits.

S is for… Super League

What else? The greed and self-interest of the so-called Big Six was laid bare and, thankfully, rejected by all.

T is for… Thomas Tuchel

Chelsea’s new Special One arrived in late January and made an immediate impact, guiding them to Champions League glory. U is for… Unlucky Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford has already hit the woodwork seven times since the

Bees won promotion. V is for… Veteran to Vieira

Roy Hodgson left Crystal Palace at the age of 74, his successor, Patrick Vieira, is 29 years his junior.

W is for…

Wantaway

Poor old Harry Kane. The Tottenham captain wanted a summer move to Man City, but it wasn’t to be.

X is for… X-factor

Mo Salah has shown his star quality isn’t on the wane with a lethal second half of the year. Y is for… You had to be there

Alisson Becker’s last-minute header for Liverpool at West Brom. Z is for… Zoom

Where most of the press conferences are still taking place because of Covid.