January 05, (THEWILL) –Â In the build-up to Thursday’s Carabao Cup meeting with Arsenal, Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders tested positive for Covid-19.
With Jurgen Klopp also out due to a positive test, Lijnders was set to lead Liverpool in the encounter, which has been postponed due to a slew of injuries, illnesses, and other absences plaguing the group.
On Wednesday, the club posted on Twitter: “We can confirm Pepijn Lijnders has returned a suspected positive test for COVID-19, further impacting our preparations for Thursday’s Carabao Cup tie with Arsenal.”
After positive Covid-19 tests, Alisson, Roberto Firmino, and Joel Matip have been placed in isolation, while Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Naby Keita have all flown to the Africa Cup of Nations. Injuries have sidelined Thiago, Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino, Nathaniel Phillips, and Harvey Elliott.
There are concerns about Liverpool’s capacity to complete the match, and there are now questions about who will lead the team out now that Lijnders has been placed in self-isolation by the Reds.
Lijnders is believed to be one of several players and staff members who tested positive on Tuesday, causing first-team training to be cancelled ahead of Thursday’s semi-final.
The test results for Lijnders, on the other hand, were received later in the day, after the fixture had been postponed.
The EFL has promised to consider delay requests on a case-by-case basis, but will endeavour to follow the rule that fixtures must be played provided a club has at least 14 players available from their registered first-team squad, including one goalkeeper.
Tyler Morton will be listed among the 14 players under the age of 21 who are not in the official registered squad but have played at least one league match this season.
The request for a postponement is still being evaluated, and a response is likely in the following hours.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
