Liverpool have requested their Carabao Cup semi-final trip to Arsenal be postponed.
Thursday’s first leg encounter at the Emirates Stadium has been plunged into fresh uncertainty after Jurgen Klopp’s side reported further coronavirus cases.
Klopp as well as Alisson, Roberto Firmino and Joel Matip were all missing from the Reds’ 2-2 draw at Chelsea last weekend after returning positive results.
A further six players were sidelined from the clash through either injury or suspension while Liverpool’s first-team goalkeeping coaches were all absent.
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita’s respective departures to play in the Africa Cup of Nations have compounded Anfield’s current selection issues.
Liverpool submitted a request to the EFL on Tuesday in light of the growing limitations which led to a training session being cancelled earlier in the day.
A decision from the Carabao Cup organisers is expected on Wednesday.
“Among the considerations which led to today’s application to the EFL is the need for travelling supporters to be given as much notice as possible of any potential postponement,” confirmed a club statement.
“With no prospect of the current situation improving ahead of Thursday’s fixture and the potential for it to worsen, the club considers it both prudent and reasonable to ask for the fixture to be rescheduled.”
The EFL said it will consider the request ‘in accordance with the competition rules as set out at the start of the season alongside information submitted by the club’.