Premier League managers welcome return of fans in limited numbers

With a month-long national lockdown to contain the spread of the virus set to be lifted on Dec. 2, the government has said up to 4,000 fans can attend outdoor elite sports events in the lowest-risk medium alert areas of England.

While none of the Premier League clubs are in that Tier 1 zone, Liverpool City Region and all 32 boroughs of London plus the city of London fall under the high alert Tier 2 and clubs in those areas can welcome up to 2,000 fans.

Clubs classified as being in the very high alert Tier 3 zone, including the Manchester teams, will have to wait longer before welcoming fans back to their grounds.

Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce, whose club cannot yet host any fans, said the move was a “step in the right direction” for smaller teams.