Sports
Liverpool Request Arsenal Carabao Cup Clash Be Postponed
Liverpool have formally requested that the EFL postpone their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal on Thursday, following a further COVID-19 outbreak among players and staff.
The new positive tests forced the cancellation of the Reds’ training session on Tuesday, and with numerous injuries and Africa Cup of Nations absences too, Jurgen Klopp’s side stands to be without a host of first-team players for the game.
Alisson, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino are all in isolation. Meanwhile, Thiago, Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino, Nathaniel Phillips and Harvey Elliott are sidelined with injury.
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita have only just departed for international duty at the AFCON tournament in Cameroon.
Klopp himself if isolating having tested positive for the virus last week.
The fate of the match now rests in the hands of the EFL. The protocol is similar to that in the Premier League, where clubs must present their case for the postponement of a match. However, the fixture is expected to be fulfilled if a squad of 14 players – including two goalkeepers – is available.
In a statement, Liverpool said: “The Reds have formally requested to the EFL that the fixture is rescheduled after further suspected positive tests were registered among players and staff, allied to other factors impacting selection, including illness and injury.
“In response, the club halted preparations at the AXA Training Centre, meaning Tuesday’s first-team training session was cancelled.
“Among the considerations which led to today’s application to the EFL is the need for travelling supporters to be given as much notice as possible of any potential postponement.
“With no prospect of the current situation improving ahead of Thursday’s fixture and the potential for it to worsen, the club considers it both prudent and reasonable to ask for the fixture to be rescheduled.”
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