Liverpool could be handed title + West Brom/Leeds promotion

Radical plans could be introduced if the Premier League season is completely curtailed due to coronavirus – with Liverpool reportedly set to be named Premier League champions, while Leeds and West Brom are likely to be promoted from the Championship.

Talk Sport

Saturday 14th March 2020


Top-flight fixtures have been suspended until April 4 at the earliest, but it is feared the campaign may not resume because of the pandemic.

Liverpool could be crowned champions without kicking another ball

The Premier League will hold an emergency meeting on to discuss what happens with this season – and the Telegraph has revealed the bold and controversial plans which could be introduced.

According to the report, there is little opposition to handing the Reds their first domestic title in 30 years, with Jurgen Klopp’s men currently 25-points clear and needing just two more wins.

At the other end of the table, one proposal suggests that no teams will be relegated this season, while the current top two in the Championship, Leeds and West Brom, will be promoted for a 22-team season.

This would mean the EFL Cup would have to be scrapped for one year to allow room for the extra fixtures – and FIVE teams could be relegated at the end of next season.

The Premier League would also need to decide how to determine Champions League and Europa League qualification.




Leeds could return to the Premier League following a 17-year exodus

UEFA will meet on Tuesday to discuss the future of its competitions, including this summer’s European Championship, after which things may become clearer.

There is no regulation governing what happens if the campaign is cancelled, as football faces the prospect of its longest suspension since the Second World War.

FA chairman Greg Clarke has reportedly told the Premier League that he does not believe the domestic season can be completed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The latest figures show 798 confirmed cases in the UK, including eleven deaths, and health officials fear there could be up to 10,000 unknown infections.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea forward Callum Hudson-Odoi have both tested positive for the virus, although both are already on the mend.

As well as Arsenal and Chelsea, the entire Everton squad is also in self-isolation after a first-team member displayed symptoms.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/talksport. ... virus/amp/

Can't have promotions from championship to Prem .

Can see everything staying as is

Can't have promotions from championship to Prem .

Can see everything staying as is

Thats how I feel it should end Mike, start next season as we started this one as we will never catch up as they reckon the whole of April will be cancelled.

I'd have thought the season would need to be completed over the summer, if possible with the start of next season delayed. There's 9 games left so could realistically be completed in 5 weeks with the top 3 claiming promotion.
This crisis may well be used to try and get rid of the league Cup all together by some clubs.

As much as it would be a massive blow for Liverpool and Leeds for example I can’t see it happening. There would be uproar. The season is incomplete and there is still matches where other teams can fight there way out of relegation, get into the top two etc etc. Imagine if you were just relegated from the football league for example but you were within a point of safety with 10 games to go. It just wouldn’t be fair and for Liverpool fans as an examplE it just wouldn’t feel the same just being given the title as it would have winning the thing fair and square. Don’t get me wrong they deserve the title but it’s not all about them and one rule for one and not another would be unfair. It’s very hard to see how it can be resolved. Maybe just null and void but that also doesn’t seem fair but what can we do - there are much more worrying things going on. Easy to say as a cardiff fan though being sat where we are in the league but even we could get into the play offs. I think to start next season where the table sits now is the fairest idea of them all really. Definetely

Extend the season till end of july as euros were supposed to be on so no excuses bout players not being able to play.
Start new season middle of Sept or at the end.
Cancel EFL trophy and Carling cup next season making more space to play fixtures midweek.
Games will av to be played behind closed doors if they av to, hopefully theres a pot of money aside or prem leagues pay into it to help fund lower league sides.
If it's a void league surely sky would demand tv money back which would also cripple clubs.??
Think leagues will finish the seasons

With 27 points still to play for the current Prem bottom three could escape and be replaced by three other teams so the fairest thing to do would be if no more games can be played this season each team starts next season in the same division they started and with the points they had gained. No promotions or relegations this season.

Can't have promotions from championship to Prem .

Can see everything staying as is

Thats how I feel it should end Mike, start next season as we started this one as we will never catch up as they reckon the whole of April will be cancelled.

It's a toughie, that's for sure...

Certain teams in the Premier League will be desperate for it all to be put on hold to keep a tether on the financial cash cow, whilst teams in the championship want the promotion they will have worked so hard to get (none more so than Leeds United in recent years)

Which is best is the question?

Firstly, there is no current indicator that this season will be axed but it must be considered (and I point to the current fact that the Premier League, EFL and other organisations have self-isolated against Government advice)

Secondly, for me, the Championship clubs at the top (joking apart even Leeds) far deserve an opportunity to strut their stuff in the Premier League having earned (to date) the right do so

Thirdly, the teams at the bottom of said Premier League are there because (sadly like us last season) they simply aren't good enough in that particular competition, so would it be right or fair to give those clubs a reprieve at the cost of the top Championship teams?

Personally, I think not; and should this season now fall into further disarray, a way needs to be found to ensure the integrity of the competition and stop the likes of one-man Villa and The 'Ammers Karren Brady from using the situation to gain an unfair advantage of clinging to the cash cow at the expense of other more deserving clubs

But as I said, it will be a tough one this season, no matter when/if the season gets sorted and any decisions will be greeted by some and abhorred by others

TERRY B

was thinking the same thing myself just leave everything and everbody in the position with the points gained and just add the new season on top of existing one this way no team looses out its just frozen

These are exceptional circumstances beyond the control of anyone person or organisation. Unfortunately this will be known as COVID-19 season which was never completed.

There should be no Champions of any division no promotion or relegation. Tough call on those clubs due to gain, brilliant relief for those who are due to be relegated.

Muddling around with the leagues will cause further resentment further down the line. Imagine the the club that finishes 18th next season finishing 4 places above the bottom club and is still relegated?

Also it would have the same knock on effects on the Championship, League 1 and League 2.

The best thing is to scrap this season and start allover again in August if possible.

Hi chaps, this is what WILL happen both legally and morally. 100% this season will be null and void, and ALL teams to start from scratch in August. Sad for Scouse-Mouses, Leeds, and more importantly the green and white shite from Glasgow, plus others, but the lawsuits that would inevitably follow should titles, relegation, promotion, etc be awarded without finishing the season would be catastrophic for football. F.T.J !!!

Heard a sports lawyer on the news this morning state that these are untested waters and there is nothing in the current rules and the season cannot just end without the full quota of games being played therefore there can only be 2 outcomes

1: season is completed as normal after postponement.

2: season is cancelled and everything restarts fresh in September with all results expunged from the record as if the 19/20 season didn’t take place.

Heard a sports lawyer on the news this morning state that these are untested waters and there is nothing in the current rules and the season cannot just end without the full quota of games being played therefore there can only be 2 outcomes

1: season is completed as normal after postponement.

2: season is cancelled and everything restarts fresh in September with all results expunged from the record as if the 19/20 season didn’t take place.

Only number 1 is the right thing to do, and I think that the season will be completed no matter how long it takes, and if necessary games played behind closed doors and next season starting late.
Number 2 is not going to happen there would be uproar and lawsuits flying all over the place

Extend the season till end of july as euros were supposed to be on so no excuses bout players not being able to play.
Start new season middle of Sept or at the end.
Cancel EFL trophy and Carling cup next season making more space to play fixtures midweek.
Games will av to be played behind closed doors if they av to, hopefully theres a pot of money aside or prem leagues pay into it to help fund lower league sides.
If it's a void league surely sky would demand tv money back which would also cripple clubs.??
Think leagues will finish the seasons

I’ve said exactly the same , this is the most obvious and fair way to sort it out

You have to take into account what other countries are doing as well,if we carry on this season through the summer and then start next season in late September but Italy abandon this season and to start on time for the following season,where does the transfer window begin and end.

I think it'll have to be a Europe wide decision. Not just UK, as it will have ramifications internationally not just nationally.
If it is classed as null and void,
It's going to open a financial can of worms,such as questions to be asked about, prize money even down to unused season tickets.
Perhaps the fairest way is (if its null and void) each league share the prize money evenly amongst the teams , after sky and bt and quest are repaid,for games not played.
But it's going to be one Hell of a problem to sort out . But I think the health of the people has to come first , after all football is just a game.

Heard a sports lawyer on the news this morning state that these are untested waters and there is nothing in the current rules and the season cannot just end without the full quota of games being played therefore there can only be 2 outcomes

1: season is completed as normal after postponement.

2: season is cancelled and everything restarts fresh in September with all results expunged from the record as if the 19/20 season didn’t take place.

I wouldn't argue with either options, but my preference would be option 1.
Remaining matches to resume around late summer (assuming coronavirus continues to effect us that long and allowing for players to regain fitness levels)
Then after a one/two week break, start the new league season again and abandon the League cup and FA cup competitions next season to allow catch-up.

Can see Fulham etc suing the fa if they hand Leeds and west Brom promotion

I think you are all missing an important point here.

It is unlikely that the corona virus issue will be finished any time soon. ( December being a conservative estimate)
If this is the outcome fixtures for this season could be completed then, god willing.

The death toll in the UK will rise dramatically in the coming months.
Remember we are the worst prepared country in Western Europe for corona virus.
We have less specialist care beds per head than any other country.
It's not looking good for when the shit hits the fan.

I think you are all missing an important point here.

It is unlikely that the corona virus issue will be finished any time soon. ( December being a conservative estimate)
If this is the outcome fixtures for this season could be completed then, god willing.

The death toll in the UK will rise dramatically in the coming months.
Remember we are the worst prepared country in Western Europe for corona virus.
We have less specialist care beds per head than any other country.
It's not looking good for when the shit hits the fan.

I think we are better prepared than one might think. I have family members in health service and they’ve been given advice on work arrangements etc expected and also how beds and space will be managed. It’s going to be a nightmare no doubt but I think to say we’re the worst prepared in Europe is wide of the mark mate.

We will soon find out in the next 2 weeks.
There is a shortage of intensive care beds, trained personnel and resources.
I fear the worse and I am an eternal optimist.

We will soon find out in the next 2 weeks.
There is a shortage of intensive care beds, trained personnel and resources.
I fear the worse and I am an eternal optimist.

That's exactly why the Government, Health Boards and other emergency services are trying to flatten the whole thing out!

As someone else said, the UK is better prepared for this (and other) eventualities than some would have you think!

We will soon find out in the next 2 weeks.
There is a shortage of intensive care beds, trained personnel and resources.
I fear the worse and I am an eternal optimist.

I was also told that retired doctors etc would be drafted in to assist.
Withi 2 weeks it’ll probably be not good at all.

IF SILLY POOL GET THE TITLE THEN A PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SET LEEDS SHOULD DESERVE THE SAME TREATMENT. as I see it there's gonna be 2 promoted up leeds and wba no relegation down from the prem Aston villa lucky twats the season will be extended for the extra games that's what is flapping about on social media time to play remaining games some of you say well this virus ain't gonna hit it's peak till may June .

IF SILLY POOL GET THE TITLE THEN A PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SET LEEDS SHOULD DESERVE THE SAME TREATMENT. as I see it there's gonna be 2 promoted up leeds and wba no relegation down from the prem Aston villa lucky twats the season will be extended for the extra games that's what is flapping about on social media time to play remaining games some of you say well this virus ain't gonna hit it's peak till may June .

Disagree.

You would put your mortgage on Liverpool winning the Premier so if the season is cancelled it would be morally right to hand them the title.

As for relegation from the Premier there could be a good call to put Norwich as a relegated club. If so that would allow for one team to be promoted from the Championship. Its too close a call between Leeds and WBA to give that spot to either team. Therefore the outcome for this one if the season is cancelled is to allow Norwich to remain in the Premier.

The same logic should be applied to all the other leagues and the way I see it is no one from there will be promoted/relegated. Bottom line is Liverpool should be named Premier champions with the status quo remaining for the rest. Cardiff will end up above Swansea so that should please most on here.

It will be interesting to see what the Bookies pay out on.

The season has to, and will be imo, finished off. It’s the only way. The only argument for not doing this would be to make room for another competition to start. It’s illogical. You can’t start a new season without finishing off the previous one.

Yes they’ll be things like players contracts, the transfer window, TV rights to sort out but no one of that is beyond a solution especially if all the governing bodies are working together. Ultimately, if it comes down to it and next season cannot start until day December having finished off this season in say November then maybe an agreement where teams only play each other once or cups are scrapped etc.