Premier league 2019-20: Five substitutions to be allowed this season
The club managers will now be able to make up to five substitutions for the remainder of the Premier League 2019-20 season. In a meeting on Thursday, the clubs agreed to tweak the rule temporarily. Notably, the maximum number of substitute players on the bench will also be increased from seven to nine. FIFA proposed the rule last month to protect player welfare.
Premier League will resume on June 17
The Premier League restarts on June 17 with Manchester City hosting Arsenal and Sheffield United facing Aston Villa. The dates of remaining nine rounds of fixtures are then expected to be completed in five weeks. However, no decision has been made regarding the league standings, if the COVID-19 cases surge. Meanwhile, the clubs have also agreed to play fewer matches at neutral venues.
An excerpt from the statement
"The number of substitutes that can be used during a match will increase from three to five players. Shareholders also approved for clubs to increase the maximum number of substitute players on the bench from seven to nine," the Premier League said in a statement.
Neutral venue was one of the discussion points
The clubs have agreed to stage the remaining of high-voltage fixtures at neutral venues. Mark Roberts, the UK's national lead for football policing, suggested that any match wherein Liverpool could win the tile, should be played at a neutral venue. This will reduce mass gatherings in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. Liverpool City Council's safety advisory group will take a decision next week.
Liverpool lead the show in title race
Liverpool were having a dream run in the Premier League 2019-20 before it got deferred due to coronavirus outbreak. Having won 27 and lost just one game, the Reds have a massive lead of 25 points at the top. Manchester City are second with 57 points. They require two victories from their remaining nine encounters to clinch their first top-flight title in 30 years.
