Football in2021 Five reasons why it could be a great footballing year

Optimism was in short supply in a tempestuous and testing 2020. But with the annus horribilis now over, we are all hoping 2021 will provide more positivity.

Football has offered a little bit of escapism for millions of us this year - and promises to give more uplifting moments away from the pandemic in the next 12 months.

Here are five things we hope we can look forward to...

The return of fans

Going to the match with your mates and getting the atmosphere going in a packed stadium might seem a long way off at the moment.

However, the coronavirus vaccine does provide optimism that could happen in the coming months.

A handful of supporters were fortunate enough to watch live football again in recent weeks, when a limited number returned to grounds in tier one and tier two areas after the national lockdown ended on 2 December.

That changed on Wednesday, with all matches behind closed doors again following the latest Covid-19 restrictions.

What are the new tiers and lockdown rules in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales?

Vaccinations are starting to be rolled out across the country and Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the programme's speed will depend on how fast the vaccines can be manufactured.

Only when that process is further down the line will we know what it means for football crowds. But most fans will hope 2021 brings the chance to dust off the season ticket, go through a much-missed matchday routine and see their favourite team in the flesh once again.

A more open Premier League title race?

When England's Premier League resumed in June there was little to get excited about in terms of a title race.

Liverpool sat 25 points clear at the top and the possibility of them not wrapping up their first league title in 30 years was close to non-existent.

Even going into 2020, the Reds were already 13 points clear of second-placed Leicester City - with a game in hand.

Twelve months on, things are much tighter. Only seven points separate Liverpool, who still look to be the team to beat, and ninth-placed Southampton.

However, the Reds are not as impenetrable as they were. After 16 games last season, they had dropped points just once in a draw at Manchester United.

After the same number of games this term, Jurgen Klopp's side have dropped points in seven games, with six draws and one defeat.

Two seasons ago, Manchester City won the title by accumulating 98 points, just short of their record 100-point haul in 2017-18.