Just us, or everyone?
Just us and the home team in any London Derby I think, full article below. It also says in the event of any curtailment unweighted PPG will decide the season -
Liverpool are likely to have to play their remaining home fixtures at neutral venues when the Premier League resumes next month, The Times can reveal.
The Premier League clubs yesterday agreed to resume the season behind closed doors on Wednesday June 17 with Manchester City v Arsenal and Aston Villa v Sheffield United the first matches since football was shutdown on March 13.
The authorities are concerned that “key matches” — such as those involving league leaders Liverpool and London derbies — might lead to supporters congregating outside stadiums in breach of social distancing guidelines.
Jurgen Klopp’s team are on the brink of securing their first league title for 30 years but, under one proposal discussed by clubs yesterday, would have to play their four remaining home games away from Anfield. The main London derbies would also be played at neutral grounds.
The proposals discussed yesterday will be voted on at another shareholders’ meeting on June 4. They include:
- Unweighted points-per-game would be used to determine the final table should the remaining 92 matches fail to be completed. That would see Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Norwich City relegated to the Championship.
- The £340million rebate owed to broadcasters would fall to £170million should all the matches be completed by August 2. There would be nothing to pay next season, with the outstanding debt repaid over the two seasons that follow.
- The amount each club will have to pay will be determined by their final league placing.
Manchester City v Arsenal and Aston Villa v Sheffield United are fixtures that were rearranged. Playing these games first would mean all 20 clubs would go into the following weekend having played 29 matches, therefore reducing the risk of further complications should the season still need to be curtailed because of coronavirus.
The weekend of June 20-21 is now the favoured start date for the remaining matches, with matches being played over seven weekends with two rounds of midweek fixtures. With clubs now returning to full contact training, there is expected to be little opposition to the proposal for the two games on June 17.
The Times understands the broadcasters have also been made aware of the plan.
