Jack Butland delivers 2019-20 verdict that will intrigue Liverpool and Leeds supporters

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Jack Butland has told Alan Brazil’s Sports Breakfast show (09.25am, Friday) that he believes the 2019-20 campaign must be completed, which will delight Leeds and Liverpool supporters who sit top of the Championship and Premier League.

England international Butland remains at struggling Championship side Stoke City, who have crawled themselves out of the relegation places to sit in a much more comfortable 17th place – following Michael O’Neill replacing Nathan Jones as boss.

The threat of relegation at the Britannia Stadium, though, is still a very real possibility with Butland’s sitting only three points above 22nd-placed Charlton Athletic. All three promoted teams from League One are currently in the bottom three.

Butland was asked whether he feels the current season should finish, or that it should be null and voided – like the National League and all football underneath that level. He stated that it should be completed, which will please Leeds and Liverpool fans.

“The fairest thing is to carry on, whenever that is possible,” Butland said. “It gives teams the control of their own destiny. Teams at the bottom will want it null and void and that’s understandable.

“There is a big discussion about Liverpool and they deserve the premier League. At Stoke, we want to stay up and give it a good go next year. Give everyone a fair chance. The best thing to do is to finish it.”

With nine games left to play in the Championship, Leeds sit top on 71 points – one ahead of West Brom but perhaps more importantly, seven ahead of third-placed Fulham in the play-offs. They have won their last five games, without conceding.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are just six points away from finally ending their 30-year wait for a top-flight title. The current season is suspended until April 30 at the very earliest due to the coronavirus pandemic.