The Premier League insist they remain eager for all remaining 92 fixtures this season to be played via the usual home and away method, though have confirmed a "neutral-venue contingency" is in place.
With clubs having unanimously voted to approve the return of contact training, on Thursday it was confirmed that the 2019-20 top-flight season - suspended since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic - would provisionally resume behind closed doors next month, with the first pair of fixtures taking place on June 17.
And while the majority of matches - including all due to take place in London - are scheduled to be played at clubs' home stadiums, six fixtures deemed as "high-risk" looked set to be moved to neutral venues, with the country’s most senior football police officer Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts stressing the need to balance the needs of football with minimising the demand on policing.
The matches in question are Manchester City vs Liverpool; City vs Newcastle; Manchester United vs Sheffield United, Newcastle vs Liverpool and Everton vs Liverpool, raising the prospect of the Reds sealing their first league title for 30 years at a neural stadium.
Addressing the issue in a statement released on Friday afternoon, the Premier League said that discussions with police were continuing.
"The Premier League's ambition is to complete all of our remaining fixtures this season home and away, where possible," the statement read.
"We are working with our clubs to ensure risks are assessed and minimised, while cooperating with the police at a local and national level.
"Discussions with the National Police Chiefs' Council and UK Football Policing Unit have been positive and are continuing.
"We are prepared for all outcomes and have a neutral-venue contingency."
