Liverpool, London teams to welcome fans back, Manchester clubs must wait

Half of the teams in the Premier League will be permitted to welcome some fans back to stadiums when the COVID-19 lockdown in England ends next week.

The U.K. government announced a new tiering system Thursday to help contain the spread of the virus, with 10 teams, including Liverpool and clubs from London, falling in Tier 2 regions where up to 2,000 supporters can attend matches, according to The Guardian's Paul MacInnes and Ed Aarons.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Everton, Crystal Palace, Southampton, West Ham United, Fulham, and Brighton and Hove Albion can welcome supporters back when the lockdown is lifted on Dec. 2.

The other 10 teams, including Manchester United and City, are located in high-risk areas - Tier 3 - and will continue to play behind closed doors.

While there are no clubs in Tier 1 - where up to 4,000 spectators can attend outdoor sporting events - it's possible that some teams could be elevated or face further restrictions when the government reviews the tiering system in mid-December.

Meanwhile, a majority of clubs in the Championship will continue to play without fans in attendance, as only nine of the 24 teams are in Tier 2.