All the Premier League clubs have fought really hard to ensure that they get to play their matches in a typical home and away format for the rest of the 2019/20 season. And the stakeholders had unanimously decided to scrap the idea of neutral venues.
The EPL is set to resume from June 17 in normal fashion but all the matches will be played behind closed doors, obviously due to the safety of all the fans.
And now as per the latest reports, despite the usual home and away format, there are six Premier League matches which are scheduled to be held on neutral grounds.
According to a report in The Telegraph, police forces in Manchester, Merseyside and Northumbria have made requests to hold some matches in neutral venues following which Britain’s most senior police officer, Mark Roberts has announced that a handful of the games will have to be shifted.
“We have reached a consensus that balances the needs of football, while also minimising the demand on policing,” said Roberts, as per the BBC.
“The majority of remaining matches will be played, at home and away as scheduled, with a small number of fixtures taking place at neutral venues, which, contrary to some reports, have yet to be agreed.
“The views and agreement of forces which host Premier League clubs have been sought and where there were concerns, the Premier League has been supportive in providing flexibility in arranging alternative venues where requested.
📅 17.06.2020
Premier League Shareholders today agreed to a new provisional restart date for the 2019/20 season of Wednesday 17 June, provided that all safety requirements are in place
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 28, 2020
“This plan will be kept continually under review to ensure public health and safety and a key part of this is for supporters to continue to respect the social distancing guidelines, and not to attend or gather outside the stadiums.”
Here are the matches which are likely to be played at neutral venues:
Manchester City v Liverpool
Manchester City v Newcastle United
Manchester United v Sheffield United
Newcastle United v Liverpool
Everton v Liverpool
Any game where Liverpool will secure the league title.
The Premier League intends to finish all their remaining 92 matches by August 1 so that the other domestic tournaments, as well as the European tournaments, can finish without having to make major adjustments.
