The Premier League has announced that the 2020/21 season will begin on 12 September, with plans to wrap up a bit later than usual at the end of May.
The 2019/20 season ends this Sunday, much later than planned due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It remains unclear how the late-season run will affect further campaigns, with the Euros postponed until 2021 to allow clubs to use the summer to wrap things up domestically. can be allowed.
Premier League shareholders have today agreed to start the 2020/21 #PL season on September 12.
The final match round of the campaign will take place on May 23.
The Premier League will continue to consult with the @FA and @EFL regarding the scheduling of all domestic fixtures pic.twitter.com/AE21rTqiwK
— Premier League (@premierleague) July 24, 2020
However, the league has now confirmed that the next season will start on Saturday 12 September and conclude on 23 May 2021.
The EFL has also confirmed that the Championship and Leagues 1 and 2 will return on the same date.
?️ 1️⃣2️⃣?? ????????? ?️
The EFL has announced the start date for the new 2020/21 season. ?
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) July 24, 2020
This will result in most clubs being able to fit in a short six-week window, although the season starts less than three weeks after the Champions League final, which takes place on August 23.
The season will start behind closed doors, although there have been suggestions from Prime Minister Boris Johnson that there could be limited attendances at sporting events again from October. If Johnson’s most optimistic timescale is correct, the first three rounds of fixtures – except those selected for trial attendances – will be played in empty stadiums, with fans returning in some capacity. .
Tottenham could be the first Premier League ground to bring fans back as part of a trial scheme.
— Bolarinwa Olajide (@iambolar) July 19, 2020
Other measures introduced to help reduce the burden on players, such as scheduled water breaks and an increased range of substitutions, are expected to continue, although there has been some opposition to the latter.
2020/21 will see Liverpool begin their first Premier League title defence, and as is usual for the champions, their first league match of the season will be at Anfield.
They could face none other than Championship winners Leeds, who will play their first game at Elland Road after knocking West Brom and Brentford off the top spot.
Further announcements are expected on the 2020/21 FA Cup and EFL Cup.