EPL cleared for June 17

players and managers – along with all our other stakeholders – as the health and welfare of our participants and supporters is our priority.

‘‘If all goes well, we will be thrilled to resume the 2019-20 season in just over two weeks’ time.’’

But the police still want Liverpool’s key games – before they almost certainly clinch the trophy – to be played away from the city and in neutral stadiums. Liverpool are two wins from ending their 30-year title drought, 25 points clear with nine games to go.

‘‘We need to ensure people don’t congregate around stadiums,’’ Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said at a Downing Street news conference.

Clubs agreed during a conference call on Friday to restart on June 17 but West Ham vice chair Karren Brady said the latest virtual meeting of club executives featured a long discussion about ‘‘what constitutes having a team fit enough to compete in the games left to play.’’

Having only four substitutes was deemed sufficient.

‘There are obvious and genuine concerns about what happens to your match results if your club has a number of players testing positive for coronavirus, or is in selfisolation, and as a result you simply cannot field your usual or strongest starting XI,’’ Brady wrote in The Sun newspaper.