Premier League returns after 100-day corona break

London

The English top flight follows Germany’s Bundesliga and La Liga in Spain in rebooting the season after the coronavirus lockdown, aiming to cram 92 games into six weeks of breathless action. Aston Villa kicks off against Sheffield United and the fixture will be followed by Manchester City versus Arsenal, before a cascade of matches.

Despite vocal complaints from some clubs and stars including Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling, “Project Restart” has largely gone smoothly, with regular testing of players and staff yielding few positive results. But when Villa and Sheffield clash, the watching world will be confronted with a jarring spectacle, with an eerie silence in the usually noisy stands.

Piping crowd chants into stadiums, cardboard cut-outs of supporters and live video fan walls will add colour, but it will be impossible to mimic the usual vibrant atmosphere. In total, about 300 people will be allowed in stadiums for each match, with strict health protocols in place.

There will be widespread disinfection of changing facilities, dugouts, match balls, goal posts, corner flags and substitution boards. People other than players and coaching staff on team benches must wear face coverings. The games themselves will look different. Players have been told to maintain social distancing during goal celebrations and encouraged not to spit.

The hectic fixture list, warm summer temperatures and a lack of preparation time could lead to more injuries and so, FIFA has given the green light for five substitutions per team. Following the death of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter cause will also be visible. Players’ names will be replaced on the back of their shirts with “Black Lives Matter” for the first 12 matches, while the league will back anyone who chooses to take a knee in protest before or during matches.

The subdued mood and constant fear of the virus making its presence felt will overshadow the remainder of a season that will always have an asterisk next to it in the history books. When the campaign was halted on March 13, Liverpool was two wins away from its first English title in 30 years.

Jurgen Klopp’s side, 25 points clear at the top, could be crowned champion as soon as this weekend if second-placed Manchester City loses at home to Arsenal on Wednesday and the ‘Reds’ wins its first game of the restart at Merseyside rival Everton on Sunday.

Leicester City, Chelsea and Manchester United will try to hold off unexpected challenges from Sheffield and Wolves in the race to reach the Champions League. At the other end, Norwich City, Villa and Bournemouth bid to climb out of the bottom three.