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Carabao Cup semi:Liverpool seek game against Arsenal postpone
Carabao Cup Semi-final: After more Covid-19 cases, Liverpool has requested that the Carabao Cup semi-final at Arsenal be postponed. The Reds 2-2 draw against Chelsea on Sunday was played without their boss Jurgen Klopp and three other key players after all tested positive. A further test has revealed more Covid-19 cases which prompted the cancellation of Tuesday’s training session.
Carabao Cup Semi-final: Liverpool seek game against Arsenal postpone, the game which is the first leg of a two-legged tie and to be played at the Emirates stadium.
After more cases of Covid-19 within the squad forced the cancellation of training on Tuesday, Liverpool has formally requested that the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Arsenal on Thursday be postponed.
After the latest round of testing revealed more cases within the first-team boss Jurgen Klopp and three players – Alisson Becker, Roberto Firmino, and Joel Matip were forced to miss Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea after testing positive.
Read Liverpool official statement seeking postponement of Carabao Cup semi-final at Arsenal …
The Reds have formally requested to the EFL that the fixture be 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.
Liverpool FC will offer a further update on the application process, as well as the resumption of training, in due course.
Due to illness and injuries, Liverpool were without nine players for the encounter against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and have since lost Mohamed Salah, Naby Keita, and Sadio Mane to Africa Cup of Nations service.
The request for a postponement will also raise a question over Sunday’s FA Cup third-round tie at home to Shrewsbury.
A spokesperson from the EFL said: “The league has this evening received a request from Liverpool to postpone Thursday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal, which will now be considered in accordance with the competition rules as set out at the start of the season alongside information submitted by the club.
“We will look to confirm the league’s position as soon as possible once the circumstances have been fully reviewed.”
The return leg of the semi-final is set for January 13 at Anfield.
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