'High-risk' matches and Liverpool's title-winning location: PL questions that still need answering
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Updated 29/05/2020 at 19:01 GMT
The Premier League is returning on June 17, and here we look at some key questions that still need answering before the season resumes…
Liverpool fans at Anfield
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Will Liverpool play at Anfield again this season?
Reports on Friday claim six ‘high risk’ matches will be moved to neutral venues, with police fearing supporters could congregate outside stadiums and flout social distancing rules amid the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the Daily Mail, they are:
- Manchester City v Liverpool
- Manchester City v Newcastle
- Manchester United v Sheffield United
- Newcastle v Liverpool
- Everton v Liverpool
The sixth match would be the one where Liverpool can potentially be confirmed champions.
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The famous Paisley Gates at Liverpool Football Club's Anfield stadium
Image credit: Getty Images
The Premier League addressed this concern on Friday afternoon, and said talks were ongoing:
The Premier League's ambition is to complete all of our remaining fixtures this season home and away, where possible. We are working with our clubs to ensure risks are assessed and minimised, while cooperating with the police at a local and national level. Discussions with the National Police Chiefs' Council and UK Football Policing Unit have been positive and are continuing. We are prepared for all outcomes and have a neutral-venue contingency.
Other games that could be moved are:
- Tottenham v West Ham; Liverpool v Crystal Palace; West Ham v Chelsea, Liverpool v Aston Villa; Crystal Palace v Chelsea; Liverpool v Burnley; Tottenham v Arsenal; Liverpool v Chelsea; Crystal Palace v Tottenham
Wembley has been suggested as a potential ground where Liverpool could end up clinching the title.
It is all-but inevitable that Liverpool will win the title, so could they lift the trophy at the national stadium? Or will they insist on waiting for an outdoor space when supporters can congregate once more? We may not have a definitive answer for a week or two.
When will the season finish?
We know that the league with resume with two matches on June 17 - Man City vs Arsenal and Aston Villa vs Sheffield United - before the first full round of fixtures takes place from June 19-22.
Friday, June 19
- Watford vs Leicester (8pm)
Saturday, June 20
- Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace (12.30pm)
- Brighton vs Arsenal (3pm)
- Manchester City vs Burnley (5.30pm)
- Newcastle United vs Sheffield United (8pm)
Sunday, June 21
- Norwich City vs Southampton (midday)
- Aston Villa vs Chelsea (2pm)
- Tottenham vs Manchester United (4.30pm)
- West Ham United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (7pm)
Monday June 22
- Everton vs Liverpool (8pm)
With the FA Cup final announced for August 1, the Premier League is yet to confirm when the campaign will conclude.
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Raheem Sterling of Manchester City celebrates with the trophy after victory in the FA Cup Final match between Manchester City and Watford at Wembley Stadium on May 18, 2019 in London, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Typically taking place on a Sunday, the FA Cup final means the league is likely to finish a week before on July 26 or a week after on August 9.
Will there be matches every day?
It’s wall-to-wall football, with all 92 remaining games to be shown live on TV.
Games will take place across the weekend, with kick-off times at 8pm on Friday, 12.30pm, 3pm, 5.30pm and 8pm on Saturday, midday, 2pm, 4.30pm and 7pm on Sunday, 8pm on Monday and 6pm and 8pm for midweek matches on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
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James Maddison of Leicester City talks with Jack Grealish of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Leicester City at Villa Park on December 08, 2019
Image credit: Getty Images
So could that mean football every single day? Potentially, yes…
The June 19-22 weekend of football is Gameweek 30, and should Gameweek 38 take place on the final Sunday of July, that leaves four weekends and five midweek blocks to play out seven more rounds of the Premier League. And once you factor in FA Cup matches, which will lead to rescheduled league matches, then there is every possibility of a match being played almost every day.
When will the European competitions take place?
UEFA are intending to finish the Champions League and Europa League by the end of August, but no dates have been confirmed.
There has been talk of completing the Champions League in one week, in one city, but that could change depending on what the domestic season finishes.
Will there be crowds next season?
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Premier League chief executive Richard Masters
Image credit: Getty Images
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters says there is optimism that fans will be allowed into stadiums next season, although it will probably happen gradually.
"No one knows when matches will move away from the behind-closed-doors model and it is right to have contingency plans in place, but there is optimism at the Premier League and at clubs that we will see fans back in the stadiums next season and it may happen on a phased basis," Masters told Sky Sports News.
"Hopefully it will be a huge morale boost and that is what we've been working towards," he added.
We all know the Premier League as we know and love it won't be fully back until we have fans back through the turnstiles.
What about the summer transfer window?
Masters also said in the interview that the transfer window will open when the current season ends but there had been no decision yet on how long it would last.
"There is a judgement call to be made and I think we'll get to that in the next couple of weeks," he said.
The transfer window will open after the end of the season. It's just a question of how long it goes on for.
Additional reporting from Reuters.
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