Liverpool Ask To Postpone Arsenal Carabao Cup Tie Due To COVID-19 Outbreak
Mounting positive COVID-19 tests in the Liverpool squad could place the team’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal at risk.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are due to take on the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday at 19:45 GMT, but informal discussions have taken place with the EFL regarding the situation.
As things stand the game remains on, yet Liverpool have now made a formal application to postpone the game. Rearranging the match could prove complicated as the only free dates in the calendar are after the Carabao Cup final date.
Liverpool light on numbers
Liverpool were missing nine first-team players for last weekend’s draw with Chelsea, owing to injuries, suspensions and COVID-19, and have since had further players test positive for COVID-19, with the Athletic reporting that first-team training was cancelled on Tuesday afternoon.
Additionally, Liverpool are now without Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita, who have all set off to join their countries for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Klopp himself and three of his staff missed last weekend’s game with positive tests as well. It is not known yet the full extent of the latest outbreak, but Liverpool’s squad looks set to be down to the bare bones if the match against Arsenal does indeed go ahead.
