FOOTBALL’S COMING BACK
...and Liverpool could seal title in Manchester
FOOTBALL finally restarts on June 17 and Liverpool could clinch their first league title in 30 years in a Merseyside derby in Manchester.
The Premier League will reboot with Aston Villa hosting Sheffield United and Arsenal away to Manchester City. If Pep Guardiola’s City lose, Liverpool could be crowned champions if they
beat Everton, which was to have been at Goodison. But the derby clash is one of 12 high-profile games that will have to be played at neutral venues due to police concerns about social gatherings.
It is understood Old Trafford or the Etihad have been put forward as potential venues, meaning
Jurgen Klopp’s runaway leaders could face the prospect of staging a home game in enemy territory with the chance to be champions for the first time since 1990.
Home-and-away matches look most likely for the vast majority of games after yesterday’s meeting between the Premier League and all 20 clubs to discuss
Project Restart. The City-Arsenal game and Villa-Blades matches are the two games in hand and a full fixture list would then take place on the weekend of June 19-21, with 92 fixtures to play.
Clubs are set to vote on the new proposals next Thursday.
It is understood once the Reds – who are 25 points clear at the top – have clinched the title they will be allowed to stage any of their remaining four home games at Anfield against Crystal Palace, Villa, Burnley and Chelsea.
Liverpool bosses are keen to stand up for their fans and do not want them to be singled out as potential troublemakers when it comes to social gatherings.