Alan Shearer Wants EPL Decision That Could Determine Liverpool Title Fate

Alan Shearer expects the landscape of football to be changed by the coronavirus outbreak – but not until after Liverpool have been given a chance to win the Premier League title.

Top-flight football has been suspended since March 13 in response to the pandemic, although clubs have committed to resuming the season when it is safe to do so.

Liverpool stand a record 25 points clear at the summit and need only two wins from their remaining nine games to lift the title for the first time since 1990.

And former Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and England striker Shearer, now a BBC pundit, would be happy to wait until August for the current campaign to be concluded.

“Football does not seem important right now, but at the same time we are all looking forward to the day it resumes again. It will be a sign that life is getting back to normal,” he said.

“When it does, I hope we can get this season finished. The Premier League has said that it is going to explore every possible angle to try to complete the campaign and will only look at other options as a last resort, which at this stage is the right thing to do.

“I think everyone is trying to be as committed as possible to getting the season finished at some stage, whether that is in June, July or August. I hope that will happen, even if affects the start of next season.

“We have to wait until it is safe, though. And no-one has any choice but to sit tight and wait, because we are all just guessing when that might be.”

Football Association chairman Greg Clarke has warned clubs could disappear if the financial issues of the ongoing crisis are not addressed.

And Shearer, speaking to Match of the Day, added: “One thing that seems certain is that this has changed the whole landscape of football, in terms of salaries and future transfer fees.

“I hope that does not mean we will see some clubs going to the wall. The advance from the Premier League will, I hope, help the lower leagues survive this unprecedented period – but at the moment no-one knows when we will get back to playing again.”