January 6 – Liverpool’s League Cup semi-final first leg at Arsenal on Thursday has been postponed because of a “severe outbreak of Covid” at the Anfield club.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp missed Sunday’s Premier League draw at Chelsea following a suspected positive test. Three of his players – Alisson, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino – also missed the game along with three other members of staff.
The Reds’ squad has been further stretched by the departure of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Liverpool have closed their training centre after assistant manager Pep Lijnders became the latest to have to isolate. The first leg of the semi-final will now be at Anfield on January 13 and the second at Arsenal a week later.
“Having now fully reviewed the circumstances involved, the League has accepted Liverpool’s request after determining, albeit reluctantly, that a postponement was the only option as the club looks to mitigate against the further risk of infection amongst its squad and staff alongside ensuring public health was protected by not travelling from Liverpool to London,” said a statement by the English Football League.
Following the postponement, the latest high-profile English fixture to be hit by Covid, Liverpool said in a statement it “would like to place on record its thanks to the EFL and Arsenal for their understanding, as well as supporters of both clubs, as we continue to navigate through this challenging period”.
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