FRIDAY’S announcement that the Premier League was being suspended for at least the next three weeks was widely viewed to be the right call.
Yet some top-flight managers would have been quietly rueing the news — while others would privately have breathed a sigh of relief.
Jose Mourinho may get his stars back but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would have liked to keep his in-form side on the field
Inevitably there are some winners and some losers.
A first top-flight title in 30 years was within touching distance for Liverpool — and could even have come tomorrow.
Yet four defeats in six matches in three different competitions shows Jurgen Klopp’s men have not been at their best recently.
A few weeks to reassess may not be a bad thing for the Anfield chief.
And No 1 keeper Alisson should be back when the football resumes.
Pep Guardiola’s thoughts are on two cup competitions after conceding their title crown months ago.
By the time Manchester City are back in action, he may be able to call on Leroy Sane and Aymeric Laporte.
How big could those two be if the FA Cup and Champions League are to be played to their conclusion?
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has seen his injury-hit team go six games without a win.
But the break will give Harry Kane and Son Heung-min time to recover from injuries and possibly aid a push for the top four.
But a similar thing could be said at Chelsea, where Frank Lampard would have been without a host of players for the next two games — N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to name a few.
Yet they were starting to find their feet after good wins over Liverpool and Everton in the previous week.
Aston Villa are in the bottom three but they have a game in hand and a win would see them jump up to 16th.
Bournemouth are also in the drop zone — but at the last count they had 11 players injured. A month off might be just what Eddie Howe needs. Newcastle look to be safe and the loss of keeper Martin Dubravka to a knee injury should not be an issue once the Premier League resumes.
West Ham chief Karren Brady has made it clear in SunSport that she would like the season to end now.
No doubt there is a similar feeling at Watford and Brighton, who are also looking over their shoulders.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s improving Manchester United were on a ten-match unbeaten run — with eight of those clean sheets.
The Norwegian tries to look on the bright side and will hope Marcus Rashford is back when the action resumes.
You never know, Paul Pogba might even be considered match fit on the other side. Then again — maybe not.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
