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The Premier League is back on Wednesday, with two matches in the afternoon, including a tasty one between Arsenal and Manchester City. For those of you who haven’t watched much Premier League this season, or those who have and just have forgotten a ton of stuff in the months its been since we’ve seen the league, we’ve got a quick primer to get you all caught up.
Here are five things to know ahead of the Premier League’s return.
1. Liverpool should coast to a title
There was a joke that Liverpool were headed for their first Premier League title and the only thing that could stop them was the world ending … and that nearly happened. But now the league is back, and Liverpool should wrap this up in the next game or two.
There are nine matches remaining: Liverpool sit on 82 points. In second place, Manchester City have 57 points. There are nine matches remaining. City would have to be perfect, and Liverpool would have to have a collapse the likes of which we’ve never seen. Or the world could collapse into global hysteria. Again.
2. COVID-19 is going to be an issue
The Premier League is played in England, and coronavirus is still very much an ongoing issue in the country. The players have been quarantined as well as possible, and the games will be played behind closed doors, but there have already been reports of infections, and it’s not going to stop. It appears the league has made its peace with a few people having to drop due to illness, but it remains to be seen what will happen if there’s a major outbreak on a team.
Rule changes will also be in effect to help with the fact that players may not be coming in at top shape. There will be five allowed substitutions per match, as opposed to the traditional three.
3. Yes, there will be pumped-in crowd noise
Pumped-in crowd noise is happening! The noise will be added to the broadcast, and NBC viewers will have the option to watch with the noise on (on their TV) or without the added crowd noise on NBC Sports Gold or the Peacock Network, whatever that is.
It’s actually good, the fake noise. I’m a convert.
4. There’s a serious relegation battle
While the top of the table may be settled, there’s going to be a fantastic scrap at the bottom to avoid relegation. Six teams sit under 30 points currently, all only separated by nine points in the table. Three of them will head down to the Championship next season, and it’s going to be a scrap to see who stays up.
5. A fifth spot may be open for the Champions League
Manchester City was punished earlier this season for violating Financial Fair Play, and the team — which currently sits in second place in the league — was handed a punishment that would see them banned from Champions League next year. City are currently appealing, and a decision is expected soon, but if the decision holds up … that means the fifth place team will make the lucrative Champions League next year, and not just the top four.
Manchester United, Wolves, Sheffield United, Arsenal, and Tottenham are all right in contention for that fifth spot. That’s going to be a fun one to watch.
Wednesday’s Big Winner: Mike Trout
The soon-to-be, if-not-already G.O.A.T. called out Rob Manfred over the owners’ slimy negotiating tactics re: the restart of the baseball season. It’s been an ugly road and doesn’t look promising for the future, but at least Trout is speaking out for the players. When he talks, people pay attention.
Quick hits: Tom Brady in a Bucs jersey, OK State, and more
– We now have seen Tom Brady in a Bucs jersey and its just as jarring as you’d imagine.
– OK State coach Mike Gundy finally apologized after numerous current and former players spoke out after he appeared in an OAN t-shirt.
– Doug Gottlieb tried to report something about the OK State dispute, and was quickly shut down by a bunch of OK State players.
– The NBA is actually assigning hotels at Disney World based on seeding and fans had so many jokes.