The first leg of the League Cup semifinals between Arsenal and Liverpool on Thursday have been postponed because of the outbreak of Covid-19 infection in Liverpool, the English Football League (EFL) said on Wednesday.
Liverpool have asked EFL on Tuesday to reschedule the game because of the increase in Covid-19 cases at the club.
The Merseyside club temporarily closed their training ground on Wednesday because of the number of Covid-19 infections which were allegedly in the club.
“The first leg of the Carao Cup Cup (League) between Arsenal and Liverpool is scheduled for Thursday 6 January 2022 has been postponed after the official request by Liverpool because of severe Covid infection outbreaks,” The EFL said in a statement.
“EFL has conducted an ordinary dialogue with the club for the past 48 hours in an effort to understand whether the tie can continue but significant developments during this period have produced a club that reported a covid case that continues to increase.” As a result of delays, the bond sequence has been changed with the first of two feet now take place at Anfield on January 13, while the re-regulated game will be played as the second leg at The Emirates on January 20.
Liverpool Alisson Becker, Roberto Firmino and Joel Matip returned a positive test on Sunday, while Juergen Klopp manager was tested positive at the weekend.
Virgil van Dijk, Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho and Curtis Jones were also forced into isolation last month after a positive test.
England reported 218,724 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, a new record for the number of cases reported on one day in the UK.