Just a couple of weeks ago, Joleon Lescott (ex-Manchester City legend) admitted Liverpool were most likely to win the Premier League and the 25 point gap that the Reds have established confirmed them the winners. Now, we’re not so sure. After the sudden spread of the deadly coronavirus, the Premier League suspended play on Friday and games are not scheduled to resume until April 3 because of the pandemic. The Premier League said matches will resume on April 4 subject to “conditions at the time”.
Many are optimistic for what lies ahead and many are fearful that the Reds might not get what they deserve. After a 30-year drought of any Premier League silver, the Kop were finally preparing to celebrate the fantastic feat. It would be an awful tragedy if Liverpool’s hard work to earn that whopping point gap goes down the drain. Nonetheless, Alan Shearer, the infamous Newcastle striker, believes that the Premier League season can’t be won or lost without the completion of all 38 matches.
Unfortunately, in Shearer’s opinion, Liverpool don’t deserve to hoist the trophy this season. He claimed: “not completing the season has to be the very last option on the table. Every angle and scenario has to be looked at in order to reach a conclusion, even if that means a long delay before playing into next season. There is so much speculation and opinion. But the bottom line is that everyone is guessing, and right now there are far more important things.”
Although Shearer realizes it’s a harsh decision, “for Liverpool, it would be incredibly harsh”, he still remains adamant on the fact that no team deserves the title without the completion of the matches.
“But I cannot see how it would be fair to hand them the title — despite the fact it is obvious nobody is going to catch them.”
However, Gary Neville thinks “nothing can be ruled out” as Jamie Carragher also fears that the Reds might miss out on their first Premier League title. “You can’t start next season until this one finishes when ever that is. No title winners?”, Carragher tweeted.
Neville was quick to respond to his fellow pundit as the former Manchester United defender insisted anything could happen.
“Nothing can be ruled out,” Neville said on Twitter. “It’s unprecedented.”
Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has offered a different type solution to finishing Premier League season amid the current coronavirus pandemic. Begovic believes a “football feast” of multiple games being played in the summer, could be a solution once the virus is under control. The Times also reported that government guidelines expect the deadly bug will not peak until around mid-June. “Six or seven weeks of games every night and rekindling the fun of the game.”
Begovic’s idea could certainly work, however, this is yet to be decided. The Premier League will address all these points at their emergency meeting on Thursday. Basically, three potential major decisions could be made if it is accepted that the coronavirus has won. Firstly, do positions as they are now standing with the season deemed completed. The second decision is the season scrapped null and void and third, is it eventually played to its natural conclusion come what may.
