Arteta & Hudson-Odoi test positive, what happens to the PL now?
Liverpool just can’t seem to catch a break. The club were on course for a stellar season just a couple of weeks ago, with the team very much in the running for three titles; the FA Cup, Champions League and the ever elusive Premier League. On top of that, the team were also gunning for Arsenal’s record of going the entire season unbeaten. Oh, what a difference two weeks can make!
First, they were thrashed 3-0 by Watford, thus putting an end to their bid to remain unbeaten all season. Then, they crashed out of the FA Cup. At this point, they were still on course to have a solid season. They just had to beat Athletico at home and qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Well…that didn’t happen.
At this point, you might be thinking “You know what? It doesn’t matter. They still have the prem”. YES.. but at the same time, life is a cruel mistress and apparently also a United fan, because the Covid-19 outbreak has gotten from bad to worse. With Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta AND Chelsea player Callum hudson-Odoi BOTH having tested positive for it, the PL season will surely be affected.
Now, if you’re a Liverpool fan, this is horrible news. If you’re everyone else however, this is brilliant. I mean, not so much that the Covid-19 outbreak is getting worse but the fact that you just can’t script Liverpool being on course for their first Premier League title in 30 years only for the season to be void because of an infectious virus.
Maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves here. There’s no guarantee that the season will be void. The situation is evolving rapidly and it’s safe to say that no one really knows what’s going to happen next.
That being said, no one is going to begrudge Liverpool a thoroughly deserved title. Given how much of a lead they have on second placed Manchester City, I don’t see the League being struck from the records and effectively started again next season, with no relegation, promotions or titles. Liverpool is winning the league this season whether we like it or not.
The question is whether or not there will be an asterisk attached to this one (which rival supporters will without a doubt revel in reminding Liverpool fans). This would happen should the league be suspended. However, in spite of Liverpool’s almost insurmountable lead, there is still so much to play for elsewhere in the table.
This season has been one of the closest in recent times and with only 8 points separating Arsenal in ninth and Chelsea in fourth, you have six teams with a real shot at claiming that last Champions League spot. Add to that what’s going on with the relegation battle and you can almost guarantee ending the season now as it stands will bring endless lawsuits. So maybe a suspended league isn’t exactly the best option.
Another possibility would be for a playoffs style round of games to decide the final outcomes for any relevant titles, promotion, relegation or European football spots. Though of course, scheduling this would be difficult. The way things stand as of now, even the Euros will probably be cancelled and with no real idea of how bad the virus will get before it gets better, it’s almost impossible for football associations around the world to reschedule games.
At the end of the day, we just have to understand that in these extraordinary times, we’re going to be met with extraordinary solutions. We best accept whatever the outcome might be, even if it’s not the most fair or just. Liverpool will win the league this season, but who cares? We now know that if there is A God out there, he sure as hell ain’t a Liverpool fan, and that’s just going to have to do for everyone else.
