LONDON/ WASHINGTON: Manchester United are set to return to Premier League action at Tottenham Hotspur on June 19 after the opening dates for the resumption of the top flight were announced on Friday.
The Premier League, which was suspended in March due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, will resume after a 100-day hiatus on June 17 with Aston Villa taking on Sheffield United, followed by the game between Manchester City and Arsenal on the same evening.
Jurgen Klopp’s team will then host Crystal Palace at Anfield on June 24, before taking on Manchester City follows on July 2.
The Premier League has only confirmed the fixture schedule for the first three match rounds of the resumed season, which will all be played behind closed doors. The games will be held on almost every day between June 17 and July 2.
“It was confirmed last week, the remaining 92 matches will be broadcast live in the UK by the Premier League’s existing broadcast partners as, due to COVID-19, all matches will take place behind closed doors,” the league said in a statement.
Reds may clinch title
Liverpool could win the Premier League title at home after all.
Police originally indicated they wanted Liverpool’s second game after the restart against Crystal Palace to be staged at a neutral venue because of concerns that supporters could congregate outside Anfield. But the league now says the game on June 24 is scheduled to be at Liverpool’s home stadium. The Merseyside derby against Everton could still be played away from Goodison Park on June 21.
The league says the venue is still to be confirmed.
Liverpool lead Manchester City by two points and is two wins from ending its 30-year title drought. But Liverpool could clinch the trophy in its first game back against Everton if City loses to Arsenal on June 17.
Meanwhile, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: “We know it won’t be the same without our loyal supporters in stadiums but, together with our broadcast partners, we are able to ensure fans can watch or listen to each match live from home.
“It is important that as many people as possible can access our games so we are extremely happy that more than a third of our remaining fixtures will be televised free-to-air here in the UK,” he added.
It has been already announced that the clubs will be able to use five substitutes during the matches.
Recently, Aston Villa footballer Tyrone Mings had said players were the ‘last people to be consulted’ over the English Premier League’s restart plans, which he feels is ‘financially driven’. (Agencies)
