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Shift Media News LONDON|SHIFTMEDIA NEWS| The 2019/20 Premier League season will resume this week.
There has been no action in the English top-flight since early March, with all sport put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But the Premier League is now gearing up to return, with all 20 clubs welcoming their squads back to full contact training and setting a date for its resumption.
Here’s all you need to know about the restart…
When is the Premier League resuming?
‘Project Restart’ was initially planned for June 12, but clubs voted on Wednesday, June 17 for the season to resume – subject to meeting all safety requirements.
Aston Villa will host Sheffield United on that date, while Manchester City will welcome Arsenal.
Those are both rearranged games, and will mean all 20 clubs have played 29 matches heading into the weekend of June 19-21, when the rest of the top-flight will be in action once again.
Players have been back in training since May. Strict social distancing guidelines were in place initially, but clubs have since reintroduced contact training.
There are 92 matches still to play in total and all games will be held behind closed doors.
Have the dates of the games been confirmed yet?
The Premier League have announced the dates of the first three rounds of fixtures and which TV channels they will be on.
You can see the full list of games here.
New staggered kick-off times will be used for the remaining matches.
Games on a Friday will kick off at 8pm, while on Saturday the slots will be 12.30pm, 3pm, 5.30pm and 7.45pm.
Sunday matches will kick off at 12pm, 2pm, 4.30pm and 7pm, with Monday games starting at 8pm.
Midweek games on Tuesdays and Wednesday will kick off at either 6pm, 8pm or 8.15pm.
Will all games be played at the clubs’ own stadiums?
They are due to be played at the clubs’ own stadiums as normal but neutral venues could be used for some ‘key matches’ where it is considered necessary by the emergency services and safety advisory groups, or where games have to be switched due to a localised lockdown.
A league statement on venues read: “The Premier League’s ambition is to complete all of our remaining fixtures this season home and away, where possible.
“We are working with our clubs to ensure risks are assessed and minimised, while cooperating with the police at a local and national level.
“Discussions with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and UK Football Policing Unit have been positive and are continuing. We are prepared for all outcomes and have a neutral-venue contingency.”
