The Premier League have told their clubs they are hoping that no more than four matches will be held at neutral venues — and have acknowledged Liverpool may well win the title at Anfield.
Sportsmail understands that top-flight official Bill Bush was moved to write to each of the 20 clubs after a statement from National Police Chiefs' Council football lead officer Mark Roberts declared that six fixtures were set to be shifted.
Two of the six games Deputy Chief Constable Roberts listed on Friday were Everton v Liverpool and the leaders' title-clincher. However, Premier League executive director Bush noted that Merseyside Police subsequently responded by saying that, in their view, they could deal with the matches on their beat.
Liverpool may get the chance to lift the Premier League title at Anfield following talks
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Bush added that the two other police forces involved — Greater Manchester and Northumbria — are continuing to review the situation and disclosed that there was 'every possibility' that less than a handful of games will be diverted.
While no final decisions have been made — and other matches could yet fall into the mix after being mentioned last week — the final figure may well be less than the four Bush mentions.
Greater Manchester Police are understood to be expecting two of the three matches — Manchester City v Newcastle and Manchester United v Sheffield United — to go ahead at the Etihad and Old Trafford.
Police have no issues with the majority of matches being played at their original venues
That would leave City v Liverpool, although much would ride on whether that match turns out to be a potential title-clincher, and Newcastle v Liverpool, over which Northumbria Police are understood to retain concerns.
'Merseyside Police released a further statement on Friday that, in their view, the Premier League matches scheduled for their area were within their capacity to cover,' Bush wrote.
'From further enquiries, I understand that the process of review continues at the other two local police forces which had previously requested fixtures be moved.
'Of course, in the current circumstances, risks still remain and, as a fallback, we will continue to prepare for neutral venues for any match, in case they are needed, so that we can react swiftly to any withdrawal of a safety certificate.
'However, it would appear that there is every possibility that the final list of matches proposed for movement to neutral venues for policing reasons will be reduced to a maximum of four, depending on the final decisions by Greater Manchester Police and Northumbria Police.'
Clubs have hoped for matches at their original venues and Bush believes that is now on the cards.
'It has always been the case that matters relating to safety certificates are for decision by the local licensing authority, advised by their local police force,' he added, emphasising a point underlined by the Government last weekend.
'Clubs have strong relationships built up over many years and we would expect local discussions to result in the vast majority remaining at home-team venues.'
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