The Premier League has given clubs permission to play friendly matches, with strict restrictions, before the restart on June 17.
High-level teams made requests to face other teams in preparation for the league’s comeback, which was accepted, according to the Telegraph.
Premier League leaders Liverpool played an 11-player game at Anfield on Monday.
Friendly matches can be played in stadiums or training camps.
However, the Premier League has outlined a number of conditions, such as negative evidence from Covid-19 that the players’ involved return.
Measures have also been implemented to ensure that hygiene and social distancing standards are met, including:
- Clubs are prohibited from traveling for more than 90 minutes, although teams like Newcastle will be granted a special waiver if they have to travel more.
- All players must travel in their own cars, possibly in their kits.
- Official referees will not be allowed, and the members of the technical staff will take charge.
- Comprehensive stadium/training field risk assessments before games.
The Championship clubs have reportedly already moved closer to the games and BBC Sport understands that the EFL will issue guidance to the clubs on this later in the week.
Following the restart, some games could be held in neutral locations and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told BBC Radio 5 Live that he “would love” to play his local games at Anfield.
“We won’t have the help of the crowd, but no team will have that, so where’s the advantage? Whoever plays it is the same situation and that’s why I’m not too worried,” said Klopp.
“We have tried to simulate the situation by training at the stadium and getting used to it.”
