Manchester City top, Leicester City battling for survival and Liverpool missing out on the top four! How the post-lockdown Premier League table makes for VERY different reading from the real thing!

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Some clubs have handled the return from lockdown better than others, that much has been clear from some of the performances on the pitch.

The return of Premier League action has thrown up some eye-catching results, while also giving some sides a second lease of life in this season, and sending others off the rails.

The post-lockdown shift in momentum has seen some clubs lose a grasp on their European ambitions at one end, while aiding others escape the relegation quagmire at the other. 

Manchester City would be top of the Premier League table had it started afresh post-lockdown

Liverpool's form has nosedived since the return of the Premier League and would be sat fifth

At the very, top it makes for very different reading, too.

Liverpool had the title all but wrapped up before the suspension of top flight action, just two victories away from clinching their first Premier League title and first top-flight title in 30 years.

A 0-0 draw with Everton in the Merseyside derby saw their wait eeked out a little longer before victory over Crystal Palace - paired with Manchester City's defeat by Chelsea - saw them seal their title.

However, it is fair to say the foot has come off the gas for Jurgen Klopp's men since finally sealing top spot - with the Reds drawing with Burnley and being soundly beaten by Manchester City. 

Manchester United would be sat second in the table if only post-lockdown results are counted 

Based on form since the restart, in fact, Liverpool would be struggling to even break the top four, nevermind launch a title challenge - with the Reds sat fifth. 

Indeed, it is Pep Guardiola's men who lead the post-lockdown table, having racked up five victories in their seven fixtures since returning to action.

That is one more match than the majority of the teams in the league, with City having still had one postponed fixture to fulfil against Arsenal right at the start.

Indeed, without that extra fixture, it would be neighbours Manchester United who would lead the way, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men unbeaten since the restart in June.

They have won four of their fixtures, and drawn two, a run that has reignited their hopes of sealing a Champions League berth having made up ground on both Chelsea and Leicester City. 

In fact, there are few clubs in the table who haven't made ground on the Foxes.

Brendan Rodgers' Leicester City have seen their Champions League hopes take a severe hit

Daniel Farke's Norwich side have failed to collect a single point since Premier League returned 

Brendan Rodgers' men have blown an eight-point cushion in the top four and their Champions League place is under real threat following a run of just one win, three draws and two defeats. 

That form is better than just four of the top flight's clubs, with the former champions looking more like relegation candidates than European conquerors. 

If they thought they had it bad, however, spare a thought for Norwich.

The Canaries had their relegation from the top flight - for a record fifth time - confirmed at the weekend after a thumping defeat by West Ham.

It was their sixth defeat in six matches, a sequence that sees them rooted to the foot of the post-lockdown table - as well as the overall one.