The 2020/21 Premier League campaign has come with a wonderfully fun sense of unpredictability, a trait that has been largely absent from the top flight in recent years.

While the three previous seasons have seen Manchester City and Liverpool turn in relentlessly flawless campaigns, this term has a greater sense of chaos to it, with a real ‚anybody can beat anybody‘ mentality (apart from Sheffield United – but even that opinion could be made redundant within a fortnight).

As a result, even the most basic of hot takes seem to become outdated within a matter of weeks. Let’s take a look at everything we’ve changed our minds about in the top flight this season – and quite probably will change our minds about again at some point.

West Ham kicked off the season with a 2-0 home loss to Newcastle – the side currently considered one of the bleakest to support in the top flight – and did not look like a team capable of scoring. It had the makings of the start of a dire season for the Hammers.

But David Moyes got Covid and was forced to self-isolate, and suddenly West Ham could not stop scoring.

As the saying goes, Alan Irvine is temporary but class is permanent. With Moyes back in the dugout his side have lost just two of their last 11 in the Premier League, they’ve got themselves a thoroughly exciting front four and now have European football in their sights.

Between failing to win at Old Trafford in the Premier League until November, losing 6-1 to Tottenham and crashing out of the Champions League at the group stages, the first few months of the season were once again pretty challenging for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – with his future brought into question seemingly every other week.

But since their Champions League exit, Manchester United have not lost in the top flight. They have gone 13 Premier League games unbeaten – a run stretching back to 1 November, and are now just a point behind league leaders Manchester City.

A season that started with three defeats from their first six league games has transformed into a title challenge – with Solskjaer still very much at the wheel.

Man City got off to an unconvincing start to the season, winning just three of their opening eight league fixtures. November’s 2-0 loss to Tottenham and the draws with Manchester United and West Brom as recently as 15 December seemed to highlight a toothlessness and lack of cutting edge.

Richard Keys even suggested bringing in Sam Allardyce to help solve their defensive issues. And when Keys talks, you take notice.

But fast forward a little over a month and Pep Guardiola’s side are sitting top of the pile. They have won 11 on the bounce, kept four consecutive Premier League clean sheets and even beat Big Sam’s West Brom 5-0. Perhaps Richard Keys isn’t quite the astute tactical genius we thought he was?

Too soon?

With the signing of Edouard Mendy, Chelsea appeared to have found the solution to all of their problems. They won eight from nine in all competitions between the end of October and start of December with Mendy conceding just three goals in his first 12 matches.

Their 3-1 win over Leeds on 5 December left the Blues just two points off Tottenham at the Premier League summit. But things unravelled quickly for Super Frank and he was dismissed following a run of two league wins in eight.

Chelsea are now tenth, 12 points off top spot and Lampard is waiting for the call from Monday Night Football.

A 7-2 loss to Aston Villa and every senior centre back at Anfield getting injured cast major doubts over Liverpool’s ability to defend their Premier League title.

However, the Reds recorded an impressive win over title rivals Tottenham and a 7-0 thumping of Crystal Palace in the space of four days in December to leave them four points clear at the league summit. Despite everything, it looked like it was going to be business as usual after all.

But since their demolition of Palace, the Reds have failed to win in the Premier League, have found the net just once, saw their unbeaten home record ended by Burnley and have fallen seven points behind league leaders Manchester City.

We couldn’t get enough of Leeds at the start of the season, with Marcelo Bielsa’s energetic side summing up the chaotic fun that was the 2020/21 Premier League season. Scoring three at Anfield? Yes please. Relentlessly committing players forward instead of protecting a lead? Keep it coming.

Even when they lost, Leeds were praised for their adventure, guile and the spirit with which they played the game. The club could seemingly do no wrong.

Turns out, all they had to do was needlessly subject a pundit to a tirade of abuse on social media.

There’s a reason Richard Keys was banging the Sam Allardyce drum. West Brom had played just 180 minutes of competitive football under the former England boss and had already held Premier League champions Liverpool – a side who had stuck seven past Palace in their last outing – to a 1-1 draw.

The Baggies were resilient, compact and organised, limiting Liverpool to just two shots on target. The Big Sam revolution had begun.

Since their draw at Anfield, West Brom have won one, lost four, crashed out of the FA Cup to League One Blackpool and conceded 20. Perhaps Richard Keys isn’t quite the astute tactical genius we thought he was?