The Premier League has confirmed it plans to continue with the current fixture schedule despite the Covid-19 outbreak that is decimating some squads.
League chiefs held a meeting with its 20 clubs today to try and navigate a path forward after another spate of postponements over the weekend.
Six of the 10 Premier League fixtures scheduled for the weekend were called off with clubs battling outbreaks of Covid-19, although Chelsea's request to have their game at Wolves called off was turned down.
Manchester United have had two successive matches called off, with the trip to Brentford and the Old Trafford fixture with Brighton postponed as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak in the squad. United would have had just seven players available for the game against Brighton on Saturday.
There are four Carabao Cup quarter-finals due to be played this week but Premier League action doesn't resume until Boxing Day, although there is then a midweek round and another full programme over the New Year weekend.
There had been reports the midweek round would be postponed in full but after today's meeting the league have confirmed their intentions to press ahead with the current schedule.
In a statement, the Premier League said: "It was confirmed at a Premier League club meeting today that while recognising a number of clubs are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and challenges, it is the league’s collective intention to continue the current fixture schedule where safely possible.
"The health and wellbeing of all concerned remains our priority and the League will continue to monitor and reflect public health guidance, always proceeding with caution.
"A range of issues were discussed at this afternoon’s meeting, including the adaption of the Premier League COVID-19 postponement process in response to the impact of the Omicron variant.
"The league also confirmed to its clubs today that 92 per cent of players and club staff have received one, two or three COVID-19 vaccination doses, with 84 per cent of players on the vaccination journey.
"Players who have had one or two doses are required to wait for the appropriate time period before receiving either their second or booster vaccinations.
"The league continues to work with clubs to encourage vaccination among players and club staff, as well as promoting the Government’s public-health vaccination messaging to clubs and the wider public.
"No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the league, and player vaccination rates will now be publicly communicated at the end of each month, beginning in January."
In total 77 per cent of players have now had two doses of the vaccine.
In a bid to try and ease the potential fixture backlog from further postponements the FA have taken the decision to scrap replays for FA Cup third and fourth-round ties.
An FA statement said: "We can today confirm that replays have been removed in both the third and fourth rounds of the 2021-22 Emirates FA Cup.
"This exceptional decision was approved by the FA Board on Friday 17 December and has been taken in the wider interest of English football to alleviate the possibility of fixture congestion following several postponements in recent days and continued uncertainty ahead due to COVID-19.
"Ties in the third and fourth rounds of this season’s competition will be played to a finish on the day, with extra-time and penalty shootouts if required.
"Replays will return up to and including the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup from the 2022-23 season onwards."
