The 2020/2021 English Premier League will get underway this weekend as 19 other clubs will be hoping to wrestle the title from champions Liverpool.

After the coronavirus led to the suspension of the Premier League in March, the 2019/2020 season was finally concluded at the end of July- giving the clubs just few weeks to prepare for the new season.

Clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea were involved in European competition after end of the season.

The outbreak of COVID-19 led to some major changes in football across Europe as most of the leagues are trying to ensure they balance the calendar as soon as possible.

Read Also: Premier League Ponders Quick Return Of Fans To Stadium

This season will begin September 12 and its expected to be concluded on May 23 2021.

Like every new season, it is expected that some tweaks are made to the rules of the game and for this season.

Fans should expect some new rules and changes than what they saw at the concluding part of last season.

Africa Top Sports takes a look some of the major changes that is expected to be seen next season.

Five Substitutes Scraped Out

When the 2020/2021 league gets underway, we are no longer going to see five substitutes in a game as when we saw during the league restart due to COVID-19.

The Premier League adopted the temporary rule by FIFA for five substitutes to be used during matches when in June and it helped in reducing fatigues.

However, after the league ended, all participating clubs voted that they revert back to three substitutes.

So dont be surprise when you club use just three substitute.

No Plans To Resume Season With Fans

So sad that fans will not be returning to the stadium yet due to as effort to curtail the further spread of COVID-19.

The tail end of the 2019/2020 Premier League season was played behind closed doors with only official and players allowed into the stadium.

This indeed caused the Premier League clubs lots of financial losses because fans could no longer buy ticket and attend live matches.

With the season set to resume on Saturday, clubs are not sure if to start selling their ticket for the season or not.

Fans could return to the stadium in October according to the UK government, but th e recent rise in numbers of COVID-19 cases is posing a bigger threat.

No More Water Break

When the new season kicks off, we are no longer going to witness a water break like we saw when the 2019/2020 restart.

We saw water breaks during the concluding parts of last season in the both halves.

But after careful consideration, clubs decided that it will not be necessary for any water break again as the temperature will be mild when the season resume.

Coronavirus Test Will Continue

The fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic is yet to be won, hence the need for testing to continue when the season resumes.

However, unlike the concluding part of last season when clubs had to conduct a testing exercise twice a week, it will be just once in a week.

The Premier League felt the rate numbers of those who tested positive is quite low.

There are also deliberations to scrap out the test, but clubs are yet to vote on that as there are still reasons to ensure adequate measure are taken to ensure further spread.

Manchester City duo, Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez recently tested positive to the virus.

Will Players And Officials Continue Taking the Kneel?

The restart of last season saw players and officials “Take the kneel” in solidarity to Black Lives Matters and to show support against racism.

Before every game, one minute was for all players irrespective of their color to take the kneel

Also, the first three games saw players names on their jersey replaced with Black Lives Matters

The Premier League is yet to decide if it will continue with taking the Kneel when the league gets underway

VAR Will Continue To Be Used

The Use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will continue in the Premier League despite criticism it received last season.

The only difference this season will an increase in referees using pitch-side monitors for goals, red cards and penalty kicks.
However, VAR will continue to rule on factual decisions and advice on matters of subjectivity but it will be the call of the on-pitch referee.

No Winter Break

At the most crucial time when players in the Premier League could have enjoyed the winter break which was introduced last season, they will not have it this season.

The 2020/2021 season will be running five weeks shorter than the standard season because of the effect of the COVID-19 last season.