The corona virus pandemic has hit the UK particularly hard. But after three months, a little bit of normality is returning, at least in England. Shops are allowed to open again and football will start playing in the Premier League on June 17.
London (dpa) - Jürgen Klopp has arranged that things are a bit calmer in Anfield for the time being. "You have to get used to it," said the Liverpool coach after a test match in front of empty ranks, "but I like it."
No goosebumps moment when the audience starts the legendary "You'll Never Walk Alone", no loud cheers when the Reds take the next opponent apart - but at least football will be played again this week. And Klopps Liverpool FC can finally secure the well-deserved title.
The first Reds championship in 30 years is only a matter of form with 25 points ahead. The Reds could celebrate the title in the local derby in Everton on Sunday if defending champion Manchester City loses to Arsenal on Wednesday. On the other hand, the race for the Champions League spots and the fight against relegation in England are far from over.
Not only Liverpool supporters had looked enviously to Germany in the past weeks. The Bundesliga was considered a model for the Premier League on the island and became a TV highlight for fans who were fed up with the repetitions of historic football games.
The decision to re-start was initially very controversial. With more than 41,000 confirmed deaths, the UK is one of the most severely affected by the coronavirus in Europe. The fact that football should be played again despite the dramatic effects caused criticism. Some players also expressed concerns and feared for their health.
But the critical voices grew silent. The league introduced extensive security measures with regular tests and prescribed strict rules for everyone involved - no spitting or blowing your nose on the pitch, goal celebrations only at a distance from your teammates. There will also be no ball boys and girls, instead the ball should always be replaced with a disinfected specimen.
In terms of sport, the nine remaining game days are all about a lot. Leicester City (3/53 place), Chelsea (4/48), Manchester United (5/45) and even the Wolverhampton Wanderers (6/43) are fighting for the premier class, which could be enough for fifth place this season . Second-placed Man City has been banned from UEFA for two years for violating Financial Fair Play. At the beginning of July, the International Sports Court in Cas should decide whether the lock will last.
It will also be exciting in the lower half of the table. At least seven clubs are still in the relegation battle. Another could be added with the 13th Newcastle United. The Magpies are restless again. The planned, controversial takeover by a consortium from Saudi Arabia threatens to fail and could plunge the club into chaos.
It looks the worst for Norwich City. The newcomer with German trainer Daniel Farke had a fantastic start to the season. But now Norwich is bottom of the table, six points behind the saving bank.
Unlike in Germany, not all games are usually broadcast live in England even on Pay TV. That is changing now. Some games are even shown on free TV. In England there will also be a soundtrack with an artificial stadium atmosphere and public noise. The British broadcaster Sky Sports even lets viewers vote on fan songs.
The last Premier League game was almost 100 days ago. On March 9, Champions League aspirant Leicester City beat the newly promoted Aston Villa 4-0. The teams had been instructed before the game not to shake hands after the final whistle. At that point, no one suspected the dramatic months ahead of Great Britain. Before the kick-off, the victims of the corona pandemic are commemorated with a minute's silence.
Sky Sports report
