Premier League makes its long-awaited return to action this week

Racing Post Sport has all the action covered for the remainder of the football season with top tips, in-depth previews and comprehensive stats in the paper and online every day

It’s been three months since we saw any live Premier League football but the English top flight is ready to resume from June 17, with barely a break between then and the final games of the season.

Leicester’s 4-0 home win over Aston Villa on March 9 was the last Premier League match played, and since then phrases such as social distancing, PPE and daily testing have become a way of life for all of us.

But after some meticulous planning and regular conference calls, league officials and clubs are ready to return – albeit without fans in attendance – and some teams are likely to benefit from the lengthy layoff.

With the title race all but done, the main focus will be on the battle for the European places and we could have a new name representing England in the Champions League.

Wolves are sixth in the table, just five points outside the top four, and Nuno Espirito Santo’s men look the value bet at 8-1 to land a top-four spot.

Having started their campaign in July last year, the usual late-season fatigue caused by a long run in the Europa League is now unlikely to have the same impact.

Before the enforced break, Wolves were unbeaten in five league games – which included an away win at Tottenham and draws against Manchester United and Leicester.

With nine games remaining, Nuno’s team look to have a pretty decent run-in, with the next three games against teams in the bottom half – West Ham (away), Bournemouth (home), and Aston Villa (away).

Chelsea occupy the final Champions League place but Frank Lampard’s men can surely hear the hooves pounding behind them in the top-four race.

Manchester United are 7-4 to make the Champions League and are sandwiched between the Blues and Wolves having gone into the unexpected break with three wins and two draws in their last five league games.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad will know they will need to hit the ground running on their return and their opening two fixtures – against Tottenham and Sheffield United – will test their credentials.

Five other teams will still have hopes of qualifying for the Europa League and the north London rivals look like they are ready to strike with late runs for the top six.

Arsenal – who have a game in hand on Tottenham – return to action following four wins and four draws in their last eight league games and are 3-1 to make the top six, while the return of the fit-again Harry Kane will surely give Tottenham (9-5) a huge lift for their remaining nine fixtures.

At the bottom end of the table, it looks likely to be five teams battling it out to avoid the final two relegation places.

Aston Villa – 9-4 to stay up – are second-from-bottom, but have the advantage of a game in hand on their rivals and a home win over Sheffield United on June 17 would see them move out of the relegation zone.

Brighton are 3-1 to go down and could be the team who slide into the mire after a run of ten games without a victory.

They face the prospect of games against Arsenal, Leicester and Manchester United on their return.

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