Summary

  • Arsenal's Mikel Arteta speaks to media

  • Chris Wilder (Sheff Utd) & Dean Smith (Aston Villa) have already spoken

  • Latest news updates as Premier League returns this week

  • Premier League returns on Wednesday with Aston Villa v Sheff Utd & Man City v Arsenal

  1. Premier League return: Club-by-club guidepublished at 09:47 British Summer Time 15 June 2020

    Neil "Neil-o" Johnston has produced a very comprehensive club-by-club guide for the return of the Premier League.

    Lap it up here.

    Odion IghaloImage source, Rex Features
  2. Where's the bookcase Jurgen?published at 09:41 British Summer Time 15 June 2020

    Media caption,

    How would Liverpool celebrate a title win without fans? Klopp tells 5 Live

    Now video chats have been all the rage during lockdown, and I'm sure you're all as enthusiastic about doing quizzes as you were in the first few weeks...right?

    Anyway, one man who's probably still enthusiastic about video quizzes is Jurgen Klopp. He's probably also excited about Liverpool winning their first league title this millennium.

  3. Rashford calls for government free school meals U-turnpublished at 09:34 British Summer Time 15 June 2020

    Media caption,

    Man United's Marcus Rashford speaks on his tough upbringing in bid to end food poverty

    Marcus Rashford has called on the government to reverse a decision not to provide free school meal vouchers during the summer, saying that "the system isn't built for families like mine to succeed".

    The Manchester United and England forward has raised about £20m to supply three million meals to vulnerable people while working with charity FareShare UK during the coronavirus lockdown.

    Campaigners have threatened to bring legal action against the government for not extending the food voucher scheme into the summer holidays.

    In an emotional open letter to MPs drawing on his own experiences of relying on free school meals and food banks growing up, Rashford said his story is "all too familiar for families in England".

    Read more here

  4. Premier League set to mark Black Lives Matterpublished at 09:29 British Summer Time 15 June 2020

    The other dominant global news story has been the Black Lives Matter campaign which followed the death of George Floyd in the United States.

    Premier League players have discussed with league chiefs how to show their solidarity, and decided that their names will be replaced on the back of their shirts with 'Black Lives Matter' for the first 12 matches.

    The league will also support any player who chooses to 'take a knee' before or during matches.

    Read more here.

    .Image source, .
  5. Meanwhile…published at 09:21 British Summer Time 15 June 2020

    Basically whichever cleaning company that has managed a deal with the Premier League and/or the clubs has done well here:

    • There will be deep cleaning of corner flags, goalposts, substitution boards and match balls before and after each fixture.
    • Some extra disinfection, such as of the substitution board after it is used, is likely to take place during matches and at half-time, while other work will be carried out during drinks breaks if they are permitted by the league.
  6. Just like...er... the good ol' dayspublished at 09:17 British Summer Time 15 June 2020

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    This is how Press Association's Jonathan Veal, along with other journalists, is covering the Sheffield United presser this morning.

  7. No masks and no ball boyspublished at 09:11 British Summer Time 15 June 2020

    .Image source, .

    So when the action kicks off on Wednesday with Aston Villa v Sheffield United, followed by Man City v Arsenal, what will be noticeably different aside from the echoey crowdless stadiums?

    • There will be no ball boys or girls - a system of sterilised replacement balls will be used.
    • Players will be encouraged not to spit or clear their noses and not to break social distancing during goal celebrations.
    • However, players and coaching staff will not be required to wear masks at stadiums.
    • In total only 300 people will be in each stadium, with no more than 110 in the 'red zone' including players, club staff and officials.

    Read more here.

  8. The great escape?published at 09:06 British Summer Time 15 June 2020

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    A reminder that Norwich are six points from safety.

  9. Monday's paperspublished at 09:01 British Summer Time 15 June 2020

    GuardianImage source, Guardian
  10. Monday's paperspublished at 08:58 British Summer Time 15 June 2020

    MirrorImage source, Mirror

    There would be one or two suitors...

  11. Monday's paperspublished at 08:58 British Summer Time 15 June 2020

    Daily StarImage source, Daily Star

    We see what you did there Star...

  12. Sweet as toffee...published at 08:52 British Summer Time 15 June 2020

    We've needed an "awwwwww" moment so here it is.

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  13. Just like old times - or notpublished at 08:46 British Summer Time 15 June 2020

    Aston Villa v Sheff Utd (Wed, 18:00BST)

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport

    The last time I attended a pre-match Premier League press conference was on 10 March, when Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola spoke ahead of his team's game against Arsenal the following day.

    As it turned out, the game never took place after the Olympiakos owner tested positive for COVID-19, meaning Arsenal, who had played the Greek side in the Europa League a few days earlier, pulled out.

    That is one of two games that will relaunch the Premier League on Wednesday, with Sheffield United's trip to Aston Villa being the other.

    All four managers are doing press conferences - Dean Smith and Chris Wilder are holding theirs imminently - but they will be 'virtual', as Brighton have been doing throughout the pandemic.

    I have been on a few of those - they were really well received by journalists, but they were time consuming.

  14. Remember pre-match pressers?published at 08:45 British Summer Time 15 June 2020

    We have three of them today:

    • Villa manager Dean Smith at about 09:00 BST
    • Sheff Utd boss Chris Wilder at about about 09:00
    • Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta at 16:00

  15. What precautions are being taken?published at 08:42 British Summer Time 15 June 2020

    .Image source, Getty Images

    You obviously already know that all staff at Premier League clubs are being tested for coronavirus - hundreds have already been carried out. On Saturday it was announced that a Norwich City player was one of two people to produce a positive result in the latest round of testing. He will now self-isolate for seven days.

    Read more here.

  16. Back for the last time?published at 08:24 British Summer Time 15 June 2020

    .Image source, .

    It’s been 98 days since we’ve had any Premier League football - just two more days before the campaign restarts and then, many of us hope, comes to a conclusion.

    Getting to this stage comes following much debate, discussion and the introduction of a raft of new regulations to ensure all those involved are kept safe during this age of Covid-19.

    These are exceptional times, but there will be a sense of familiarity with these live texts, as we bring you the latest stories, quotes, team news and the best of social media. And then, of course, there will be the return of the match live texts where, as always, you have the option to like or dislike what the live texter writer has written!!

    Did we mention live Premier League football on the BBC?