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Arsenal’s Carabao Cup semi-final with Liverpool postponed

By Ross Kennerley

Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on November 20, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on November 20, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Liverpool have seen an appeal for their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal to be postponed accepted by the EFL.

Mikel Arteta took training on Wednesday after returning from self-isolation having missed the Manchester City defeat with Covid, but there was growing uncertainty whether he would be preparing his team for a Thursday’s game or not.

The first leg of the Gunners’ semi-final clash with Liverpool was due to take place at the Emirates Stadium, only for an appeal to be lodged by the visiting side due to an escalating number of suspected positive Covid cases and fears over player availability.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were already without a number of players due to injury and AFCON involvement, with Harvey Elliott, Thiago, Nat Phillips, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita all unavailable.

Liverpool win appeal for Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal to be postponed over growing number of Covid cases within Jurgen Klopp’s squad and coaching staff

However, those absences, coupled with positive Covid cases for Klopp, his assistant, Roberto Firmino, Alisson and Joel Matip, and further suspected cases, prompted the call for postponement.

In response to previous cases, the club halted preparations at its AXA Training Centre, including the cancellation of Tuesday’s training session. After Pep Lijnders tested positive his pre-match press conference was cancelled, and then on Wednesday the club closed its training centre entirely due to ‘rapidly growing number of suspected positive Covid’ cases.

Unsurprisingly, the EFL (eventually) responded by postponing the Thursday’s first leg tie.

"A statement from the governing body read: “The first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final between Arsenal and Liverpool scheduled for Thursday 6 January 2022 has been postponed following a formal request by Liverpool due to a severe outbreak of COVID infections amongst their management and playing staff.“The EFL has been in regular dialogue with the club over the past 48 hours in an attempt to understand whether the tie could proceed but significant developments over this period have resulted in the club reporting an ever-increasing number of COVID cases.”"

This means that Liverpool’s visit to the Emirates has been postponed until January 20, with the first leg set to take place at Anfield on January 13. As a result of this, Liverpool have forfeited home advantage in the second leg.

It was always going to happen.

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What this does mean is that Arsenal are waiting for confirmation to have the date changed of their match at home to Burnley, which is currently due to take place two days after the second leg on January 22. It should be a simple case of pushing that back to the day after (Sunday), but official confirmation awaits.

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