Who would be for and against Premier League cancellation?

Football

It is still not clear when football will return or if circumstances force a Premier League cancellation.

A number of clubs have voiced concerns about the season finishing nay later than June 30.

Nevertheless, there is still consensus among the division’s 20 outfits that the campaign should be completed before the next one begins.

It would be a brave move for a club to put forward an opposing viewpoint, particularly as there are obvious problems with the competition’s integrity if the current campaign is simply declared null and void.

West Ham United’s vice-chairwoman Karren Brady was heavily criticised for expressing such an opinion, which was no doubt influenced by her side’s precarious position towards the bottom of the standings.

But if self-interest was the only factor at play, how many clubs would back Brady’s view?

Liverpool

Perhaps the most obvious choice: Liverpool are on the verge of their first league title since 1990 and will be absolutely desperate to get their hands on the prize. With a mammoth 25-point lead at the summit of the standings, the Reds require just two more wins to be crowned champions.

Manchester City

City have won the last two Premier League titles and arguably made the Champions League their priority in 2019-20. Even so, Pep Guardiola would have expected his side to get a great deal closer to Liverpool this campaign, meaning the Etihad outfit would probably not be averse to Premier League cancellation.

Leicester City

Alongside Liverpool, Leicester stand to lose the most if the season is voided. They had not yet secured Champions League qualification before the pause, but the Foxes were eight points clear of fifth place, with a top four finish well within their grasp.

Chelsea

Chelsea have been inconsistent throughout the 2019-20, but that’s to be expected given this is Frank Lampard’s first year at the helm and he has promoted several young players to the first-team squad. That said, they would probably prefer to play on as they currently occupy fourth spot.

Manchester United

Manchester City’s two-season ban from European competition complicates matters, with the reigning Premier League champions still waiting to appeal that decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Fifth place, currently occupied by neighbours United, may well be sufficient for Champions League qualification, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side – just three points adrift of fourth – would likely want to continue the campaign regardless.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

For reasons similar to those above, Wolves would not be keen for a Premier League cancellation. If fifth place does indeed bring with it a Champions League spot, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side would fancy their chances of overhauling a two-point deficit and climbing into it.

Sheffield United

Sheffield United, level on points with Wolves, also retain unlikely hopes of Champions League football. Many people’s and bookmaker favourites for relegation last summer, Chris Wilder’s Blades will be desperate to try and secure a place in continental competition.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham may be just two points adrift of Wolves and Sheffield United, but they would presumably be far happier to see the season voided – particularly if that meant they were still in the Champions League, having finished fourth in 2018/19.

Arsenal

Spurs and Arsenal do not usually see eye to eye, but the latter would no doubt share the former’s ambivalence towards continuing the season. The Gunners are currently eight points shy of Chelsea in fourth, and five behind Manchester United in fifth.

Burnley

Prize money is a significant factor for clubs like Burnley, who will earn more the higher up the table they finish. Given that Sean Dyche’s charges are just four points off sixth, they are outsiders for Europe too. The Clarets would almost certainly throw their weight behind finishing the season.

Crystal Palace

Twelve points clear of the bottom three, Palace had all but secured Premier League survival by the time the season was suspended last month. That is enough for them to favour completing the campaign and receiving another year’s worth of top-flight revenue.

Everton

Carlo Ancelotti has pulled Everton away from the relegation danger that was beginning to engulf the club under Marco Silva. Nevertheless, this has been a disappointing season for a team tipped as potential Champions League contenders, so the Toffees would presumably have no qualms with calling it a day.

Newcastle United

Eight points clear of the relegation zone, Newcastle have outperformed expectations this term – even though their results have often been far better than their performances. The Magpies would no doubt cast their vote in the ‘continue the season’ column.

Southampton

This has been a strange season for Southampton, who suffered the Premier League’s worst ever defeat yet remain in a reasonably comfortable position. Saints have probably underwhelmed a little, however, and would probably not argue too strongly against cutting the campaign short.

Brighton and Hove Albion

Brighton are another club that would be satisfied if the season ended now. That may not have been the case before the turn of the year, but the Seagulls have not won a single game in 2020 and were consequently beginning to look nervously over their shoulders at the drop zone.

West Ham United

Brady’s view may not have been echoed by her colleagues in public, but most would probably agree with the vice-chairwoman in private. West Ham are outside the bottom three on goal difference alone and would love to avoid the risk of falling into it.

Watford

Watford are in a near-identical position to West Ham, despite having experienced a revival of sorts under Nigel Pearson. Also the dreaded dotted line on goal difference, the Hornets would be happy enough to start from scratch.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth made a fine start to the season, but began to sink down the standings in the autumn and now occupy a place in the bottom three. They too would be delighted to see themselves saved by a Premier League cancellation.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa, two points adrift of safety, are in the same boat. Demotion would be a huge blow given their sizeable transfer outlay last summer, so the Villans would accept survival by any means necessary.