The two Manchester clubs, Manchester United and Manchester city will continue to play behind close door after Manchester was kept under Tier 3 restrictions following government assessment into measures to combat COVID-19 in the city.
It was announced on Thursday that Manchester and some of the cities in the country will remain under Tier 3 restrictions which means matches will be played without fans.
It was hoped that Manchester, and other areas across the country that had been put into Tier 3 on December 2 after the second national lockdown ended, would be downgraded to Tier 2 as a result of falling COVID-19 infection rates in some regions.
Such a move would have meant United and City could welcome 2,000 fans back to Old Trafford and the Etihad respectively, with United having already taken applications from season ticket holders for their match against Leeds at Old Trafford on Sunday.
There was relief for Liverpool and Everton fans, however, as fans will still be able to attend matches as the city of Liverpool remained under Tier 2 restrictions. Anfield has hosted two Premier League matches with 2,000 fans present in the last two weeks.
Wider areas in the south east will join London in stricter Tier 3 restrictions, with the majority of other areas who had hoped to be downgraded to Tier 2 restrictions disappointed by Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s announcement.
Source: skysports
