Liverpool’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal, which was due to take place on Thursday, has been postponed, the English Football League (EFL) have confirmed.
The Reds successfully appealed to have the match rescheduled following a Covid outbreak among the first-team squad, with their Melwood training ground now closed. Arsenal said in a statement that they were “disappointed to confirm” the decision.
Jurgen Klopp is currently isolating as a suspected positive case as he experiences mild symptoms. His assistant, Pep Ljinders, filled in for the 2-2 draw against Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday, but he has since tested positive himself.
In addition to a number of Covid cases, Thiago Alcantara, Takumi Minamino, Nat Phillips and Harvey Elliott are out due to injury. Mohamed Salah, Naby Keita and Sadio Mane are absent due to their participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
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Alisson Becker, Roberto Firmino and Joel Matip all missed the draw with Chelsea due to Covid.
While Liverpool will now have to play the second leg away from home instead of the first, (the game at the Emirates has been moved to 20 January, with the first leg on 13 January at Anfield) Liverpool have at least avoided forfeiting their place in the competition altogether.
Some have pointed to the parallel between Leyton Orient’s Covid outbreak in September 2020, which meant they could not play an EFL Cup third-round tie against Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs subsequently received a bye into the fourth round.
However, there is one critical difference. Clubs seeking a postponement must be able to complete the rearranged fixture before the next round commences. Due to an order from the local health authority, together with the fact the fourth round was taking place just a week later, Leyton Orient were unable to do so.
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Arsenal cannot keep playing well and losing to top sides - they need a statement win02 January, 2022Liverpool, on the other hand, will remain in the cup as long as they can play the two legs of the semi-final before the final itself, which is set for Sunday 27 February at Wembley Stadium.
If clubs are unable to field a sufficient squad of first-team players – 14 players including a goalkeeper – where possible, they are asked to make up the numbers by calling up U23s. Cases are then judged on an individual basis.
It has been widely noted that Liverpool have previously fielded weakened teams in the EFL Cup. In the 2019 quarter-final against Aston Villa, for example, Klopp named the club’s youngest ever starting XI including five debutants. The line-up had an average age of 19 years and 182 days. Neil Critchley, who at that time was Liverpool’s U23 head coach, took charge with senior players and management in Qatar for the Club World Cup.
Rescheduled semi-final dates
- First leg – 13 January, 7.45pm – Anfield
- Second leg – 20 January, 7.45pm – Emirates Stadium
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3JKadLV
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