A remarkable decade of Premier League football is drawing to a close. 

It's safe to say nobody could have predicted the current state of affairs in the English game all the way back in 2010. 

At that time, Liverpool were facing up to the threat of going into administration - but they'll start the new decade having won the Champions League, the Club World Cup, and as hot favourites for the title. 

In contrast, Manchester United won the league in 2011 and 2013 before their extraordinary demise once Sir Alex Ferguson had retired. 

However, there are other top-flight clubs who have experienced very different trajectories. 

Take Southampton and Brighton, for example, both of whom were in League One this time 10 years ago. 

GIVEMESPORT have taken a look at where every Premier League club was on Boxing Day, 2009 compared to now - in order of the current table. 

Liverpool - 7th

The Reds were not a European force, coming third in the group stages of the Champions League. Neither were they all that spectacular in the Premier League, with players like Yossi Benayoun, David N'Gog and Jay Spearing - though they still boasted a formidable partnership in Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard. 

Leicester - 4th (Championship) 

The Foxes have had a stunning decade, winning the title in 2016 and looking like serious competitors again this season. Yet it all began with them pushing for promotion in the Championship and they finally came back up in 2014. 

Manchester City - 4th

City were only ever going to catapult upwards after Sheikh Mansour's 2008 investment. It took a few years for their success to manifest, and they missed out on the Champions League in the 2009/10 season. 

Chelsea - 1st 

Chelsea started the decade as champions but they have some catching up to do at the end of it. Frank Lampard's youth policy and attacking football have ensured they are a far more likeable club to the neutral. They have, on the whole, had a relatively successful spell too, winning the title in 2015 and 2017 under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte respectively. 

Sheffield United - 11th (Championship)

Sheffield United took years to recover from the Carlos Tevez saga and spent six of the last 10 years playing in League One. For Chris Wilder to have them fifth going into the Boxing Day fixtures is astonishing. 

Wolves - 15th

Wolves were not always the force they have since become thanks to their Portuguese influence. They suffered back-to-back relegations between 2011-2013 but have fought their way back and are even being tipped for the Europa League thanks to Nuno's superb project paying dividends. 

Tottenham - 5th

It might not look like Spurs have been transformed all that much, but under Harry Redknapp, pushing for the top four - and one season of Champions League football - were as good as it got. They end the decade having competed for the title twice under Mauricio Pochettino but slumped back down again this term. 

Manchester United - 2nd

They say first is first and second is nowhere - but how United would dearly love a time machine to go back to the Ferguson era. Their collapse has seen off three permanent managers and it could yet spell the end of a fourth before too long. 

Newcastle - 1st (Championship) 

Whenever the Magpies have dropped down to the second tier, they acquitted themselves well - but a club of that size should never have gone down. The Toon Army would argue that Mike Ashley has been to blame for a largely miserable decade, with a brief bit of respite provided by Rafa Benitez. 

Burnley - 14th

Prior to their current stint, Burnley had never managed more than a season at a time at the highest level since the birth of the Premier League. Sean Dyche has changed that and they are a wholly different outfit now, especially at Turf Moor. 

Arsenal - 3rd

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The Gunners were three points off top spot on Boxing Day, 2009. They're now 26 points behind Liverpool, but that's irrelevant really - they're not even anywhere near the conversation for the top four, let alone major honours. Things have got even worse since they bid farewell to Arsene Wenger in 2018. A few FA Cups don't disguise what's been an awful decade at the Emirates. 

Crystal Palace - 9th (Championship) 

Palace spent the first couple of years of the decade struggling for survival in the Championship, but they have gone onwards and upwards since then, winning promotion in 2013. Roy Hodgson has steadied the ship and turned them into a decent mid-table team - well, when they have Wilfried Zaha, anyway.  

Brighton - 21st (League One) 

The Seagulls have had six managers in the 2010s but it's Chris Hughton who deserves the most credit for their rise. The former Republic of Ireland international was sacked and replaced with Graham Potter at the end of last season. 

Bournemouth - 2nd (League Two) 

Of the 20 Premier League clubs, Bournemouth have come the furthest. A decade ago, the Cherries were thankful to still be in existence after entering administration in 2008 and receiving a ten-point deduction. Bar one ill-fated season at Burnley, Eddie Howe has been with them every step of the way. 

Everton - 12th

Still under David Moyes, the Toffees always punched well above their weight given limited resources. Farhad Moshiri's investment ought to have turned them into an elite club but that is yet to come to fruition - perhaps the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti will bring trophies in the 2020s. 

West Ham - 17th

Some things never change. West Ham have been in the Premier League since 2012 but have only finished in the top half once. Upton Park has gone but the perpetual disappointments haven't.

Southampton - 12th (League One) 

Players like Rickie Lambert were with the Saints on their journey from League One and continued to shine the higher the club went. Southampton have done well to maintain their stay in the Premier League given the number of top players they've sold. 

Aston Villa - 6th

Villa were once up there with Tottenham pushing the traditional top four. Chronic mismanagement under US billionaire Randy Lerner saw them collapse, the 2015/16 season proving an unthinkable nadir. Back in 2009, they had a genuinely impressive squad featuring the likes of John Carew, James Milner and Ashley Young. 

Norwich City - 3rd (League One) 

Too good for League One, but never quite good enough for the Premier League. It looks as if Norwich are destined to return back to the Championship this season, but the Canaries still deserve praise for making it all the way from the third tier.

Watford - 13th (Championship) 

Likewise, this time next year, it looks like Watford will be back in the Championship. That shouldn't take away from the fact that they have spent four consecutive seasons mixing it with the big boys. 

It just goes to show how a club's fortunes can completely change in just a few short years. 

A decade is a very long time in football.