Premier League is back! Manchester City delay Liverpool celebrations, misery for Mourinho, Chelsea on fire: The predictions in pictures

English top-flight resumes after three-month break

WEDNESDAY (UAE kick-off times): Aston Villa v Sheffield United (9pm): And we’re back! Kicking off the restart will be Sheffield United – this season’s surprise package, sitting in seventh place – travelling to second-bottom Villa. The Blades have the second meanest defence in the top-flight but Villa are fighting for their lives and have actually scored more goals than their opponents. The Blades won the corresponding fixture at Bramall Lane in December 2-0. A low-scoring draw at Villa Park. Prediction: Villa 1 Sheffield United 1. PA

Gareth Cox

Jun 15, 2020

Following in the footsteps of Germany, Spain and Italy, this week sees the English Premier League return to action.

England's top-flight, suspended since March 13, is set to resume behind closed doors on Wednesday, June 17 when relegation threatened Aston Villa host seventh-placed Sheffield United, while second top Manchester City take on Arsenal later that day.

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Should Arsenal win at the Etihad Stadium, it will leave the door open for Liverpool to clinch their long-awaited title on Sunday if they beat Everton in the Merseyside derby.

On Friday, in one the biggest games of the opening fixtures, Spurs play host to Manchester United in the battle for a top four spot. The match pits Spurs manager Jose Mourinho against his old club at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

At the other end of the table, bottom club Norwich City face Southampton on Friday, while Saturday sees struggling Bournemouth at home to mid-table Crystal Palace.

To see our predictions for the opening restart matches, simply look through the photo gallery above, click on the arrows or swipe to look at the next image.