Liverpool are going to be awarded the Premier League trophy without playing any further games amid Coronavirus chaos.
According to a report by The Telegraph, the Premier League is likely to dissolve the 2019/20 season with the spoils being awarded to Liverpool FC.
The club from Merseyside currently sit unopposed on top of the Premier League, with second-placed Manchester City 25 points below them. Mathematically, if the PL is to return as planned, Jurgen Klopp’s side can clinch the trophy after winning just two games.
There seems to be little to no opposition from rival clubs for Jordan Henderson and co. to be awarded the trophy, apart from a certain West Ham vice-chairman who wants the season to be declared null and void, who said:
“What if the league cannot be finished? As games in both the Premier League and in the EFL are affected, the only fair and reasonable thing to do is declare the whole season null and void.”
The FA confirmed that the league will be suspended until further notice after Mikel Arteta was tested positive with the virus.
The idea of stretching the league till the summer and then postponing the Euros to next year seems problematic on many levels. First and foremost, there are several players whose contract/loan expires this June including Dani Ceballos, Olivier Giroud, Nemanja Matic.
There are other solutions that are in works as well, including a 22 team league, with the top 2 teams – Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion getting promoted. This would also mean that no team from the PL this season would be relegated.
Apart from the Premier League, the rest of the top 4 leagues have been suspended as well. The beloved Champions League and Europa League, too, have been temporarily barred as well.
Even though leagues have set a date of return: La Liga after 2 weeks; PL on April 5, and so on, it won’t be surprising that all the leagues put in some contingency that sees action to be diffused.
Europe has been declared as the epicenter of the virus by WHO, with the entire continent on lockdown. Other big names in the top 5 leagues that have been tested positive for the virus are Daniele Rugani, Manolo Gabbiadini, Callum Hudson-Odoi.
It would be only fair to hand the winners medals to Liverpool, who have been waiting for a league title for 30 years now. They would have to celebrate it in an empty stadium, but at least their name goes into the record books.