Coronavirus outbreak: How could the Premier League resume?

1:28 Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol says some Premier League clubs are ‘resigned’ to the prospect of the season being cancelled completely

The most drastic option. In effect, the entire season so far – approximately three-quarters of an entire campaign – would be wiped from the record books. This would rule out a title winner, qualification for Europe, relegation and so forth – and the new 2020/21 would begin from scratch.

West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady has discussed this option, writing in The Sun:

“There is no dodging the possibility that all levels in the EFL, as well as the Premier League, will have to be cancelled and this season declared null and void because if the players can’t play, the games can’t go ahead.

“So what if the league cannot be finished? As games in both the PL and in the EFL are affected, the only fair and reasonable thing to do is declare the whole season null and void.”

Declare the season null and void – but crown Liverpool champions

The most glaring issue with the ‘null and void’ option is the obvious unfairness to Liverpool, 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League and champions in almost all-but name.

Thommo: I can’t see season resuming in April
‘We need to be patient about coronavirus’

Could the Premier League vote for Liverpool to be crowned champions? Would any club vote against such a motion? It’s fascinating to speculate on, but impossible to know. Still, it’s worth noting that even Brady acknowledged that denying Liverpool the title would be ‘robbery’.

But where do you draw the line? Making an exception just for Liverpool would incense many supporters. Manchester City still have to host Liverpool, who have previous of allowing league titles to slip away.

3:30 Anfield Wrap host Neil Atkinson says it’s important that the Premier League find a way of completing all matches, for the integrity of the competition

If this “inarguable” case – as The Anfield Wrap’s Neil Atkinson put forward on Sky Sports News – was applied to further down the footballing pyramid, should West Brom, just six points clear of Fulham with nine games to play, be granted promotion to the top flight?

The Premier League will want any decision on the league’s next steps to be agreed unanimously – as was this week’s decision to suspend the season until April 3.

But if disagreements do persist, two-thirds of clubs – 14 – are required to agree to any constitutional change.

Could the current league table be used to finalise the title, CL places and relegation?

1:50 1874 Podcast presenter Dan Bardell says the current season must be completed, and Aston Villa should be given a chance to save themselves from Premier League relegation

In theory, yes. But while Liverpool have been considered champions in waiting for some time, nothing else in the league – from relegation to qualification for Europe and even the Golden Boot – comes close to being conclusive.

To relegate Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Norwich after only 29 matchdays would undoubtedly be considered unfair. But it would be especially harsh on Villa given they have played 28 games and are just two points off Watford in 17th.

Could a final table be extrapolated by an average number of points?

Again, in theory yes, but the crux of any league season is that every club plays every other club twice. Using the current league table from 28 or 29 games to declare the final league table would be a leap too far for many.

Aston Villa supporter Dan Bardell from the 1874 Podcast told Sky Sports: “I don’t see how they can just relegate the sides currently in the bottom three.

“Everyone needs to be on an even keel, everyone needs to have played the same amount of games. If we were to win that game in hand, we’d go out of the relegation zone. There’s still 92 games to be played overall. There’s still so many left.”

Could the new Premier League season start with 22 clubs?

0:32 Thompson says he finds it difficult to believe the Premier League season will resume in April as planned

It’s an idea seemingly gaining traction with reports on Saturday morning suggesting that the new Premier League season could start with 22 clubs, promoting Leeds and West Brom to the current crop of 20.

Such a response would require a substantial reworking of the calendar, perhaps necessitating an earlier start or even the remodelling of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Allowing for the two sides currently occupying the automatic promotion places in the Sky Bet Championship to go up would rankle with those currently in the play-off zone, and indeed those clubs who still feel that given their remaining fixtures they can still gatecrash the party, as seen on so many previous occasions.

It would also have a knock-on effect on the number of sides promoted from Sky Bet League One, and so on.

How likely is it that the season will resume at the start of April?

1:21 Sky Sports Kaveh Solhekol says the Premier League’s decision to suspend the season was unanimous but there are differing opinions about whether it will eventually be completed

That’s the million-dollar question. But by next Thursday, the clubs will know more about the government’s plans to ban mass gatherings, including football fixtures, and there should be a clearer understanding of the direction of travel following UEFA’s emergency meeting on Tuesday about whether this summer’s European Championships will be delayed.

When could the season be extended until?

1:18 Sky Sports News reporter Fraser Dainton explains the knock on effect the coronavirus could have on matchday business

If Euro 2020 is delayed by a year then it would open up the possibility of the current Premier League season being extended into the summer. But the scheduled Euro 2020 final date of July 12 could be used as a marker for the end of the domestic season in Europe too.