Premier League 2 explained

The Premier League has announced the introduction of Premier League 2 for the 2016/17 season – but what is it and how will it work?

Here we answer the key questions on the new competition.

What are the restrictions on players?

Premier League 2 will replace the current U21 league, with the age range extended to incorporate U23s.

However, each team can field a goalkeeper over the age limit of 23 and up to three ‘over-age’ outfield players can take part in every match.

Players must have been born after January 1, 1993 to be eligible, though.

Which teams will be in Premier League 2?

There will be two divisions – Premier League 2, Division 1 and Premier League 2, Division 2 – with 12 teams in each.

The 24 clubs involved each applied for ‘Category One’ status in the elite player performance lan and are made up of 15 Premier League sides and nine clubs from the Championship.

Teams in Division 1: Arsenal, Chelsea, Derby County, Everton, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Reading, Southampton, Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur

Teams in Division 2: Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Norwich City, Swansea City, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers

What is the format of Premier League 2?

Within their respective division, clubs play each other once at home and once away.

In Division 1, the team which finishes top are champions, with the bottom two teams relegated to Division 2.

The winners of Division 2 are automatically promoted to …

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