After being put into storage for three months, the Premier League re-emerges this week, blinking into the light of a new footballing landscape.
There will be no fans present at games, which will all have strict protocols around them to combat the threat of Covid-19.
Talks were due to resume today between the League of Ireland clubs and the FAI with a view to thrashing out a deal to get the league up and running again, but it has been deferred until Wednesday.
There are serious concerns about the immediate and long-term future of our domestic game, but across the water the show goes on.
Irish soccer supporters will be able to get their live-game fix in an intense 92-match climax. As long as there's not another wave of infections among the players and staff, the delayed 2019/20 campaign will be done by 26 July.
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Wednesday, 17 June
Aston Villa v Sheffield United, 6pm
Manchester City vs Arsenal, 8.15pm
Friday, 19 June
Norwich v Southampton, 6pm
Tottenham v Manchester United, 8.15pm
Saturday, 20 June
Watford v Leicester, 12.30pm
Brighton v Arsenal, 3pm
West Ham v Wolves, 5.30pm
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace, 7.45pm
Sunday, 21 June
Newcastle v Sheffield United, 2pm
Aston Villa v Chelsea, 4.15pm
Everton v Liverpool, 7pm
Liverpool two wins from glory
Liverpool fans must feel like their wait for a league title is going to last forever at this stage but they will surely get over the line within the next couple of weeks.
Jurgen Klopp's men need six more points to clinch it, but if Manchester City are beaten by Arsenal on Wednesday, the Merseysiders could seal the deal at the home of their neighbours Everton on Sunday night.
The Reds are 25 points clear of City, who have played a game less. Before the lockdown they were knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid and had their unbeaten record in the league ended at Watford, but the priority at Anfield has always been to get their paws on the league for the first time since 1990. That mission is almost completed.
"If we become champions, we will [celebrate] with all our supporters in the moment we are allowed to do so again," Klopp has said previously when considering the unusual circumstances around this run-in.
"I can promise that if it happens, there will be a parade as well. Whenever. Who cares! We only need one day when everybody is able to come and then we will do that."
Top-four scrap set to go to the wire
The real excitement at the top end of the table is around the race to make the top four.
A ruling on City's appeal against a two-year suspension from European competition is expected in the first half of July. If it's upheld, fifth place will be enough to earn a place in the Champions league.
That opens up a myriad of possibilities, with everyone down to ninth-placed Arsenal in with a sniff of sneaking in.
Brendan Rodgers' Leicester City are sitting pretty in third and should be okay barring a big wobble. Behind them, Chelsea - who are already shaping up to have a really significant summer of transfer business - are in decent nick, with a four-point buffer over Manchester United.
After that it's really tight. Wolves and Sheffield United, who've been outstanding on their return to the top flight, are still battling to upset the old order. If either of those sides can string a run of wins together then one of the big guns will have their noses put out of joint.
Jose Mourinho's Spurs are eighth but they are massively boosted by the return of Harry Kane. The England striker had hamstring surgery at the start of January and looked like he'd miss the rest of the season. Now, he's back in action; it could be pivotal.
Spurs host United on Friday night in a mouthwatering showdown that could make or break both sides' hopes.
The battle to beat the drop
Norwich City are six points from safety and in need of an inspired run of form. It looks like Daniel Farke's men are doomed but stranger things have happened in this division over the years.
The Canaries have shown they are capable of beating anyone - they brilliantly turned over City at Carrow Road - so they may not be done yet.
Aston Villa can pull themselves out of the drop zone if they win their game in hand against Sheffield United on Wednesday.
It's been a hugely challenging period for their manager Dean Smith, whose father died last month after contracting Covid-19.
Bournemouth are in the final relegation place, behind Watford - resurgent under Nigel Pearson - West Ham and Brighton and Hove Albion. Just two points separate those four teams so expect loads of thrills and spills in the coming weeks.
Fantasy Football pointers
There's a lovely comfort in knowing people can start to stress about 'Double Game weeks' and 'Bench Boosts' again.
Fantasy Football team managers across the land will be analysing their lineups in the quest to amass a bumper haul of points.
A lot of the usual suspects are chasing the Golden Boot and should be good for more goals.
Jame Vardy's still having a party. The 33-year-old tops the charts with 19, two ahead of Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with Sergio Aguero and Mo Salah both on 16.
Nobody has more assists than Kevin De Bruyne (18) but Trent Alexander-Arnold's remarkable return of 14 from right-back should be further bolstered on the run-in. His team-mates Sadio Mane (9) and Roberto Firmino (8) can be expected to produce the goods again, though Klopp might rest up some of his main men if his side can wrap the league up soon.
Between the sticks Burnley keeper Nick Pope has the most clean sheets (11) in the league. That's one more than Alisson, who has a remarkable record given he missed a big chunk of games at the start of the season due to injury The Brazilian won the award last season with 21 clean sheets.
Sheffield United's Dean Henderson and Kasper Schmeichel of Leicester are also both on ten.
Quotes
There's plenty of time for someone to say something mad/odd/wildly controversial, but here are three of the more memorable quotes from the season to date.
"I am humble. I am humble enough to analyse my career, and the problems. Happiness-wise I am convinced my choice was a great one. The club is huge. I know that I have potentially a great job in my hands." - Jose Mourinho becomes the 'Humble One' as he is presented as the new Tottenham manager on 21 November.
"I was rude. But I was rude with an idiot. Basically, I had bad words with the guy." - The 'Humble One' explains why he was booked after being seen rowing with Southampton's goalkeeping coach Andrew Sparkes the following January.
"You have to speak about things in the right manner. Not people with no knowledge, like me, talking about something. People with knowledge should tell the people to do this, do that and everything will be fine, or not. Not football managers. I don't understand politics, coronavirus… why me? I wear a baseball cap and have a bad shave." - Jurgen Klopp was keen to leave the coronavirus talk to the experts in March.
"Hopefully on Sunday afternoon on the sofa I can have a coffee and a piece of cake, I will celebrate with this." - Norwich boss Daniel Farke had big plans to toast a shock victory over Manchester City on 14 September.
"People have said things like: 'We will break your legs', 'Kill your wife' and 'Wish that your daughter gets cancer'. That has stirred me up and I reached boiling point when I felt the rejection in the stadium." - Granit Xhaka explains why he told Arsenal supporters to "f*** off" as he was jeered off the pitch while being substituted against Crystal Palace on 27 October.
With no fans in attendance, who will be in the stadiums and what are the protocols and requirements?
A maximum of 300 people - including broadcast staff, written media, commentators, doping officials and scouts - will be allowed inside stadiums on matchdays.
Stadiums will be split into red, amber and green zones with each team's red zone pass holders to include 20 players, 12 coaching and medical staff and a further five "essential staff".
The amber zone will include non-essential staff, such as analysts, while all others will be placed in the green zone.
Players will undergo Covid-19 tests at their club's training ground before travelling to stadiums for matches.
Teams will take the field separately, not side-by-side, and games will feature drinks breaks midway through each half.
Medical staff will wear protective equipment when treating players.
Substitutes and managers on the bench will not be required to wear masks and players do not have to wear them when entering the stadium or dressing room.
The technical area for managers will be reconfigured to allow for greater social distancing, as will team dugouts.
Corner flags, goalposts, substitution boards and match balls will be thoroughly disinfected before games.
Clubs will be encouraged to travel by plane and avoid staying in hotels before games.
Clubs are expected to use at least three coaches for matchday travel with drivers who have already undergone novel coronavirus tests.
