Premier League makes crucial end-of-season decision

It’s looking like the Premier League is set to resume in about three weeks with teams playing twice a week to finish out the remaining fixtures of the 2019-20 season.

However, a big question on everyone’s minds is what happens if for any reason the remainder of the interrupted season has to be stopped again. Earlier this week over 1,000 coronavirus tests were conducted with four more people testing positive in the third round of testing.

Fears remain that once contact training resumes and players come into contact with each other during games that the outbreak could make a quick return. In such a situation, if the Premier League has to be paused again or even canceled, all 20 clubs have come to an unanimous agreement on how the final standings will be determined.

The Mirror reported after the gruelling day-long meetings yesterday that an unweighted points-per-game calculation will be used to decide who finishes where in the table. With European spots up for grabs and the three teams to be relegated yet to be decided, this could be crucial should another surge of illnesses be seen among the players.

Everton are mostly playing for pride at this point, but a good run of results could see the Toffees jockeying for a Europa League spot. Wolverhampton are sitting in sixth right now with 43 points, and a further six teams are between them and the Blues on 37 points.

While the order and venues of the remaining fixtures are yet to be confirmed, should they be played in the sequence decided before the season started then Everton’s next game will be the Merseyside Derby against Liverpool. The crosstown rivals could even be in a position to lift the Premier League title should Manchester City falter in their game in hand against Arsenal.

Everton - remaining 2019-20 fixtures

• Liverpool (H)
• Norwich City (A)
• Leicester City (H)
• Tottenham Hotspur (A)
• Southampton (H)
• Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)
• Aston Villa (H)
• Sheffield United (A)
• AFC Bournemouth (H)

With all the remaining 92 games being played behind closed-doors, a broadcast proposal was also approved with all games being shown live in the UK by the League’s partners: Sky Sports, BT Sport, BBC Sport and Amazon Prime.

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said:

“Today we have provisionally agreed to resume the Premier League on Wednesday 17 June. But this date cannot be confirmed until we have met all the safety requirements needed, as the health and welfare of all participants and supporters is our priority.

“Sadly, matches will have to take place without fans in stadiums, so we are pleased to have come up with a positive solution for supporters to be able to watch all the remaining 92 matches.

“The Premier League and our clubs are proud to have incredibly passionate and loyal supporters. It is important to ensure as many people as possible can watch the matches at home.

“We will continue to work step-by-step and in consultation with all our stakeholders as we move towards resuming the 2019/20 season.”

The planned kick-off times in the UK for live matches will also differ from the traditional times.

2019-20 Premier League remaining fixtures - kick off times

Friday: 2000

Saturday: 1230, 1500, 1730, 2000

Sunday: 1200, 1400, 1630, 1900

Monday: 2000

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 1800, 2000

(all times in BST, EST is -5 hours and PST is -8 hours from times shown)