Maybe, but it’s probably too much to call one season a pattern. Maybe if this proves to be the new norm, then it could be. If that happens, then a sad day for the PL IMO.
I’d agree with Buzzer that, apart from the Big Six, there’s probably not too much of a gap between the best teams of the championship and the rest of the PL.
I’ve often viewed the PL as almost 3 mini leagues (most seasons). The top 5/6/7, the middle group and then the teams who are fighting...