Thread: The Premier League 2021/22

Some fellow Chelsea supporters miffed forced to play at Molyneux with 7 first picks sick , but rules are rules as long as applied equally.
Realistically their premierships hopes over losing points to Burnley at home and now Wolves, a team of that cost should be able to beat all comers at home and all bar City away , having squeezed a point at Anfield.

No criticism of Tuchel who has done very well and probably best liked manager since the special one despite his HB scowel.

The Blues last hope now is Europe as the F A Cup while having historical prestige is no longer a banker. I've said it before and Patrick Powers et al may hedgeye Madhester Chitty I think the Kloppsy Beat will won teh EPL, yep Scoucers Jurgenna win.

As Omicron rages going to be tough, and players who refuse vax may have their salaries chopped to a measly ten grand a day...poor sods.

Aside from the top spot the 3/4/5 looks far more competitive with post Olly Utd, and a hand full of London Teams in with a fair chance.

Be interesting when Newcastle go down who get the chop?

Premier League and EFL clubs have chosen to fulfil festive fixtures despite ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19 cases.

The Premier League's 20 clubs met on Monday to discuss the fixture list after six weekend games were postponed.

The postponement of a round of games over Christmas was a possibility.

No vote took place and so two rounds of fixtures are in place across five days from 26 December, while the EFL will play games "where it is safe to do so".

It had been expected that the Premier League's gameweek 20, starting on 28 December, would be postponed in order to ease the pressure on Premier League squads.

Instead, clubs have been advised if they have 13 fit players, plus a goalkeeper, they should fulfil their games.

FA Cup replays in rounds three and four have however been scrapped and talks are ongoing on whether to reduce EFL Cup semi-final ties to one-leg matches.

Last week, Premier League players returned 42 positive Covid-19 tests in a seven-day period, the highest number since the start of the pandemic. Updated figures for the most recent seven-day period are expected later on Monday.

In Sunday's Premier League fixtures, Chelsea named just six substitutes for their draw at Wolves and Liverpool drew at Tottenham without a number of first-team names.

Five of Saturday's six fixtures were called off. Chelsea tried to get Sunday's fixture at Wolves postponed and boss Thomas Tuchel said his players were put at "huge risk... not just because of Covid but also physically".

It is understood Liverpool were among a group of clubs who pushed for the postponement of gameweek 20.

After Sunday's draw at Spurs, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said playing on 26 and 28 December was not feasible.

"It's impossible, we don't have the players," Klopp said. "We have to think we will get an extra case or two. We cannot just push it all through. The 26th and 28th, that's not possible. We would prefer to play but we need help with the fixtures."

The seven Premier League teams still in the Carabao Cup face ties on 21 and 22 December and will play three Premier League fixtures between then and 2 January.

EFL points to optimism
Two Championship matches and five League Two games on 26 December have already been called off because of positive Covid-19 cases.

The EFL said it anticipates further postponements but sees "optimism that disruption can be minimised".

EFL chief executive Trevor Birch said: "We will continue to work with clubs, authorities and other agencies to monitor the Covid-19 case rate and be prepared to respond accordingly, yet for now the view remains that we can continue to deliver games safely where clubs have sufficient healthy personnel in place, on and off the pitch.

"With club mitigation measures, the mass adoption of booster jabs and Covid certification now required for larger crowds, we are sure many fans will continue to feel confident in attending matches over the Christmas period and we look forward to welcoming them."