It’s back!
After almost three months, the Premier League will restart on June 17, barring any further setbacks and safety requirements can be met, of course.
During the coronavirus-enforced break, there were a lot of questions with uncertain answers, many of us wondering whether or not we would see any form of Premier League this season let alone being able to attend a match. Although games will be held behind closed door, as we saw with the Bundesliga, the quality of football will still be the same.
With 92 games remaining for the 2019-20 season, the first games will kick-off on a Wednesday (BST) with Manchester City playing Arsenal and Aston Villa will play Sheffield United. Following these two catch up games, we will ripping into a full round of fixtures beginning on Friday June 19 with a provisional end date of July 25.
If you are like many of us, where the last three months have felt like an eternity and need a refresher on where the season is at, rest assured, we have you covered. Here is what we can look forward to.
Liverpool’s title quest
We will all remember that Liverpool were well and truly on their way to clinching their first title in 30 years. Jurgen Klopp’s side were 25 points clear at the top when the season was halted, with Reds fans enduring a nervous wait as various debates circulated on how to end the season. Now with the return of the season imminent, it is no longer a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’. The title could be decided as early as match day 30 if Arsenal beat City in their first match and Liverpool knock off Everton.
Although they cannot match Arsenal’s Invincibles’ unbeaten record, thanks to a 3-1 defeat to Watford, they can still claim several records. Liverpool are five wins away from equaling Manchester City’s 2017-18 and 2018-19 record of 32 victories in a season. The Reds can also break Man City’s 2017-18 record of 100 points in a single season needing another 19 points from a possible 27. In the same year, City also hold the record, winning by 19 points. Sitting 25 points clear, Liverpool are on track to create a new benchmark.
What else is happening at the top of the table?
Manchester City’s two-year European ban handed down by UEFA throws a spanner into the works in the race for the Champions League. They have launched an appeal which is set to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in early June. If the appeal is upheld, then fifth place rather than fourth will be enough to secure a spot in the Champions League.
Assuming Man City’s appeal is overturned allowing them to play European football next year and they beat Arsenal in their next game, then they will be four games clear of fourth spot. They will then require five wins out of nine to secure a Champions League position.
Leicester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Wolverhampton, Sheffield United, Tottenham and Arsenal are all sitting behind Liverpool and City with 13 points (wins and a draw) between third and ninth position. With six sides battling it out for the remaining places, Leicester and Chelsea occupy third and fourth place respectively while Manchester United sit in fifth place breathing down their necks with a run of 11 games unbeaten in all competitions prior to the break.
Wolverhampton and Sheffield United take up sixth and seventh positions with Sheffield a chance to leap into fifth position with a win over Aston Villa in the restart game on June 17. While Tottenham and Arsenal in eighth and ninth have their work cut out for them, although the Spurs should be boosted by the return of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min from injury.
Key top table clashes
Matchday 29
- Manchester City v Arsenal
Matchday 30
- Tottenham v Manchester United
Matchday 31
- Chelsea v Manchester City
- Manchester United v Sheffield United
Matchday 32
- Manchester City v Liverpool
- Sheffield United v Tottenham
Matchday 33
- Wolverhamption v Arsenal
Matchday 34
- Arsenal v Leicester City
- Sheffield United v Wolverhampton
Matchday 35
- Tottenham v Arsenal
Matchday 36
- Arsenal v Liverpool
- Leicester City v Sheffield United
Matchday 37
- Liverpool v Chelsea
- Tottenham v Leicester City
Matchday 38
- Chelsea v Wolverhampton
- Leicester City v Manchester United
The relegation battle
Arguably, the more interesting end of the table with a bottleneck of six sides set to scrap it out to safety, as Norwich, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Watford, West Ham and Brighton (ascending order) are separated by eight points. Although relegation seems unlikely for Southampton and Newcastle (14th and 13th respectively), both side still have work to do before they are out of harms way.
With Norwich, Villa and Bournemouth taking occupying the bottom three places on the ladder, Norwich will have the toughest task, currently being six points from safety, while four points separate 19th and 15th position. With points at a premium, this one could very well go down to the wire.
Key relegation matches
Matchday 29 – Wednesday, June 17 (BST)
Aston Villa v Sheffield United
Manchester City v Arsenal
Matchday 30 – From Friday, June 19 (BST)
Aston Villa v Chelsea
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace
Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal
Everton v Liverpool
Manchester City v Burnley
Newcastle United v Sheffield United
Norwich City v Southampton
Tottenham v Manchester United
Watford v Leicester City
West Ham v Wolverhampton
Matchday 31
Burnley v Watford
Chelsea v Manchester City
Leicester City v Brighton and Hove Albion
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
Manchester United v Sheffield United
Newcastle United v Aston Villa
Norwich City v Everton
Southampton v Arsenal
Tottenham v West Ham
Wolverhampton v Bournemouth
Matchday 32
Arsenal v Norwich City
Aston Villa v Wolverhampton
Bournemouth v Newcastle United
Brighton and Hove Albion v Manchester United
Crystal Palace v Burnley
Everton v Leicester City
Manchester City v Liverpool
Sheffield United v Tottenham
Watford v Southampton
West Ham v Chelsea
Matchday 33
Burnley v Sheffield United
Chelsea v Watford
Leicester City v Crystal Palace
Liverpool v Aston Villa
Manchester United v Bournemouth
Newcastle United v West Ham
Norwich City v Brighton and Hove Albion
Southampton v Manchester City
Tottenham v Everton
Wolverhampton v Arsenal
Matchday 34
Arsenal v Leicester City
Aston Villa v Manchester United
Brighton and Hove Albion v Liverpool
Bournemouth v Tottenham
Crystal Palace v Chelsea
Everton v Southampton
Manchester City v Newcastle United
Sheffield United v Wolverhampton
Watford v Norwich City
West Ham v Burnley
Matchday 35
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
Bournemouth v Leicester City
Brighton and Hove Albion v Manchester City
Liverpool v Burnley
Manchester United v Southampton
Norwich City v West Ham
Sheffield United v Chelsea
Tottenham v Arsenal
Watford v Newcastle United
Wolverhampton v Everton
Matchday 36
Arsenal v Liverpool
Burnley v Wolverhampton
Chelsea v Norwich City
Crystal Palace v Manchester United
Everton v Aston Villa
Leicester City v Sheffield United
Manchester City v Bournemouth
Newcastle United v Tottenham
Southampton v Brighton and Hove Albion
West Ham v Watford
Matchday 37
Aston Villa v Arsenal
Bournemouth v Southampton
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United
Liverpool v Chelsea
Manchester United v West Ham
Norwich City v Burnley
Sheffield United v Everton
Tottenham v Leicester City
Watford v Manchester City
Wolverhampton v Crystal Palace
Matchday 38
Arsenal v Watford
Burnley v Brighton and Hove Albion
Chelsea v Wolverhampton
Crystal Palace v Tottenham
Everton v Bournemouth
Leicester City v Manchester United
Manchester City v Norwich City
Newcastle United v Liverpool
Southampton v Sheffield United
West Ham v Aston Villa