The Premier League is back – The build up and all you need to know

The Premier League returns today, Wednesday, 17th of June 2020 after a 100-day absence because of the coronavirus pandemic but a lot different from how we know it.

Aston Villa v Sheffield United will kick off the English top-flight’s resumption at 18:00 (BST). It is the first of 92 league games that will be packed into a frantic 40 days before the season concludes on 26 July.

Fixtures will be played behind closed doors as one of a host of measures to prevent any further cases of the coronavirus.

Also, a minute’s silence to remember those who have died from coronavirus-related complications will be held before the first matches, while heart-shaped badges in tribute to frontline NHS staff will also be worn on kits.

All player names on the back of shirts will be replaced by “Black Lives Matter” for the first 12 matches of the restarted campaign. This follows the death of George Floyd in the United States, which sparked protests worldwide.

There have been 16 positive results from 8,687 coronavirus tests and the Premier League would conduct over eight rounds of COVID-19 tests on players and staff twice-weekly.

Liverpool remains top of the table 25 points clear of the nearest rival, chasing a first league title in 30 years, and could clinch it with victory in their first game back should second-placed Manchester City lose to Arsenal on Wednesday. Bournemouth, Aston Villa, and Norwich City are in the relegation places.

Related: ‘Black Lives Matter’ to replace player names as Premier League resumes

What’s been put in place?

1. All remaining matches will take place behind closed doors, with the number of key people allowed inside the stadium limited to 300.
2. Stadiums have been divided into three zones – red (includes pitch and technical areas), amber (stands), and green (stand concourses) – with restrictions on who is allowed to enter each.
3. Teams now have the opportunity to make 5 substitutions during the game as a result of congested fixtures and lack of match fitness since the lockdown took effect. A total of nine substitutes can be named in the matchday squad instead of the usual seven.
4. VAR will continue to be in operation.
5. Staggered entry on to pitch for players and staff and no handshakes before kick-off.
6. Deep cleaning of corner flags, goalposts, substitution boards, and match balls before and after each fixture.
7. Medical protocols stipulate how squads and coaching staff must travel to and from games, observing social distancing.

How the remainder of the season shapes up

Liverpool are one win away from clinching a league title after coming so close last season. The top-flight league title has eluded them for 30 years and should Machester City lose to Arsenal on Wednesday, a win during the Merseyside derby would confirm them as champions.

The race for the top four is still up for grabs and a 5th position at the end of the season could prove vital to secure a champions league spot should Manchester City lose its 2 years ban appeal from any European competition.

Liverpool, Leicester, Chelsea, and Manchester United are currently occupying the qualification places, but the likes of Wolves, Sheffield United, Tottenham, and Arsenal will all begin again with a place in Europe’s top competition as their aim.

The struggle to stay up would be keenly contested as well with six clubs are seemingly battling it out to avoid the drop.

Bottom club Norwich are six points adrift on 21 points. Aston Villa and Bournemouth are the two clubs above them but are part of a group of five clubs, along with Watford, West Ham and Brighton, separated by just four points.

The Race for the Golden Boot

Top marksmen would get another chance to go all the way and become the 2019/2020 seasons top scorer once the premier league restarts. Jamie Vardy currently leads the pack with 19 goals while Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool on joint second with 17 goals.

1	JAMIE VARDY	LEICESTER CITY	26	19
2	MOHAMED SALAH GHALY	LIVERPOOL	26	17
3	PIERRE-EMERICK FRANCOIS AUBAMEYANG	ARSENAL	26	17
4	SERGIO AGUERO DEL CASTILLO	MANCHESTER CITY	21	16
5	DANNY INGS	SOUTHAMPTON	29	15
6	SADIO MANE	LIVERPOOL	26	14
7	MARCUS RASHFORD	MANCHESTER UNITED	22	14
8	TAMMY ABRAHAM	CHELSEA	25	14
9	RAUL RODRIGUEZ	WOLVERHAMPTON	29	13
10	DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN	EVERTON	27	13
11	RAHEEM STERLING	MANCHESTER CITY	23	11
12	HARRY KANE	TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR	20	11
13	TEEMU PUKKI	NORWICH CITY	28	11
14	CHRIS WOOD	BURNLEY	26	11
15	ANTHONY MARTIAL	MANCHESTER UNITED	23	11
16	GABRIEL FERNANDO DE JESUS	MANCHESTER CITY	24	10
17	RICHARLISON DE ANDRADE	EVERTON	27	10
18	HEUNG-MIN SON	TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR	21	9
19	KEVIN DE BRUYNE	MANCHESTER CITY	26	9
20	JORDAN AYEW	CRYSTAL PALACE	28	8