Liverpool’s FA Cup third round clash with Aston Villa is under threat.
Friday’s Villa Park tie has been plunged into uncertainty following a Covid-19 outbreak at the hosts’ Bodymoor Heath training complex earlier this week.
Dean Smith’s side halted plans to host a pre-match press conference and take part in a final team training session ahead of their meeting with the Reds.
Villa announced on Thursday that ‘a large number of first team players and staff returned positive tests’ on Monday as well as the eve of the game.
They also revealed that Bodymoor Heath, which houses both Villa’s first-team and academy squads, has been closed as a result of the cases.
A statement from the Premier League club confirmed it was ‘working closely’ with the Football Association to ensure the match still goes ahead as planned.
Final confirmation on whether it will be played is set to be made on the morning of the game pending the outcome of additional Covid-19 tests.
Should the tie be postponed, the FA’s Professional Game Board will meet next week to discuss whether it can be rescheduled in the existing calendar.
Wembley chiefs are already planning to hold discussions after Shrewsbury Town’s game against Southampton was called off due to Covid-19 issues.
The League One outfit face the prospect of forefeiting the tie, which would automatically afford the Saints a bye into the FA Cup’s fourth round draw.
An outbreak of the virus at Derby County has seen their tie with Chorley still going ahead without manager Wayne Rooney or the entire first-team squad.
Instead, academy coach Gary Bowyer will take charge of a Rams’ team solely comprised of the club’s under-23 and under-18 players at Victory Park.