London (AFP) – Aston Villa and Sheffield United players took a knee at kick-off on Wednesday as the Premier League returned after a 100-day stoppage due to coronavirus.

The first of 92 matches to be played behind closed doors was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of those who have died from COVID-19. 

Players and officials then took a knee to protest racial injustice in solidarity with the worldwide protests in response to the death of American George Floyd while in police custody.

All players will wear “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) on the back of their shirts where names are normally printed for the first 12 matches of the Premier League’s restart.

Villa manager Dean Smith’s father was one of the over 42,000 people in the UK to die from coronavirus.

Ron Smith used to be a steward at Villa Park and a steward’s jacket was placed among the empty stands in his honour.

“It’s a fantastic gesture from the football club,” Smith told Sky Sports.

“My heart goes out to anybody who has lost someone during this period.”

On the field, Villa face a battle to avoid relegation as they kicked off second bottom of the table, but victory would lift them up to 16th.

At the other end of the table, Sheffield United are aiming to qualify for European football next season for the first time in their history.

A win would edge the Blades above Manchester United into fifth.

Manchester City host Arsenal later on Wednesday in a match with huge repercussions at the top of the table.

Victory for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on his return to the Etihad, where he spent three-and-a-half years as City assistant boss, would give Liverpool the chance to seal a first league title in 30 years when they face Everton in the Merseyside derby on Sunday.