Liverpool’s Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg clash against Arsenal has been postponed after the club suffered a number of new positive Covid-19 tests, including assistant manager Pep Lijnders.
Lijnders was due to take charge of Liverpool for the second consecutive match following manager Jurgen Klopp’s own positive result.
But the Reds' No.2's own pre-match press conference was cancelled on Wednesday morning before the club also confirmed that the training ground has been shut.
Then came the official announcement that the Emirates Stadium encounter was off and has had to be rearranged.
BREAKING: Arsenal against Liverpool postponed as new Carabao Cup dates confirmed
READ MORE: Pep Lijnders tests positive for COVID after new Liverpool outbreak
But before that, and with news of Lijnders ’ absence, Liverpool fans took to social media to suggest who should take the Dutchman's place in the dugout, if the game had indeed gone ahead.
The escalating number of positive cases within the Liverpool camp comes just days after Alisson, Joel Matip, and Roberto Firmino were ruled out of Sunday’s Premier League game against Chelsea due to Covid.
It also follows an earlier outbreak in December that saw Virgil van Dijk, Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho and Curtis Jones also forced to isolate.
With Thiago, Takumi Minamino, Divock Origi and Nat Phillips all ruled out of Liverpol’s last match through injury, and Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita having departed for the Africa Cup of Nations, the Reds are left with severely limited resources.
