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Everything you need to know about the Premier League restart

A little over 100 days since the last Premier League ball was kicked, England’s top flight is making its return. There’s 92 games left to play of the 2019-20 season, which is roughly a quarter of the season.

So, where do we pick up with the action? Liverpool have a 25-point lead and need only six points to guarantee their first title in 20 years.

They could win it as soon as the Merseyside Derby this coming weekend, or against Crystal Palace at Anfield next Wednesday.

There may not be much of a title race, but there’s plenty going on elsewhere. If Man City’s Champions League ban is upheld, 5th place will be good for the Champions League, while Sheffield United and Wolves will be in contention for the Europa League.

Tottenham and Arsenal, currently in 8th and 9th places, putting them narrowly outside the European spots right now.

At the other end, six teams are in a tense relegation dogfight. Even bottom-placed Norwich may only be two wins away from climbing to safety.

So, how is it all going to work, practically-speaking?

Well, there will be no fans at any stadiums, and players and staff will be regularly tested.

Twelve-hundred tests were administered last week, with only two positive cases detected among players.

On match days, teams will be allowed nine subs on the bench (up from seven) and can make five substitutions, although the clock will only stop for three of them during regular time.

There will be drinks breaks in each half to combat the July heat, and there will also be no ball boys—sterilized balls will be strategically placed on cones around the field, apparently.

They also say no touching will be allowed during celebrations…. We’ll see how that goes.

Interestingly, unlike in the Bundesliga, players and staff in the stadium won’t be required to wear face masks.

Unless there are any COVID-19 related setbacks, the action will all be squeezed into five weeks, and will conclude by the end of the July, with the FA Cup Final taking place on August 1st.

The 2020-21 season won’t start until mid-September.

In the US, you’ll be able to watch all the games on NBC’s channels, although a few smaller market matches from each round will be behind the paywall on NBC Sports Gold or their new Peacock Service.

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