Liverpool have announced that assistant first-team manager Pep Lijnders has returned a suspected positive coronavirus test.
The 38-year-old was in the dugout for the Reds’ 2-2 draw with Chelsea in the Premier League at the weekend while Jurgen Klopp was self-isolating.
However, Liverpool are now dealing with a fresh batch of COVID-19 cases, and Lijnders is the latest to be affected after the club formally requested the postponement of Thursday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg with Arsenal.
A statement on the official Liverpool website read: “Liverpool Football Club can confirm Pepijn Lijnders has returned a suspected positive test for COVID-19, further impacting the club’s preparations for Thursday’s Carabao Cup tie with Arsenal.
“As an additional consequence, this morning’s scheduled press conference to preview the fixture has been cancelled. The assistant manager had been due to handle pre-match media duties at the AXA Training Centre in place of Jurgen Klopp, who is continuing to isolate having tested positive for the virus last week.
“The 38-year-old took interim charge of Liverpool for the weekend draw at Chelsea in the absence of Klopp and had been set to continue at the helm at Emirates Stadium on Thursday.
“Lijnders’s test result comes in addition to a number of suspected positive cases among players and football staff recorded earlier on Tuesday, which forced the cancellation of the day’s scheduled training session.
“As a result of the outbreak and the suspension of preparations, as well as other illnesses and injuries recorded within the squad, the club submitted an application to the EFL for the postponement of Thursday’s tie with Arsenal, with the news of Lijnders’ positive result coming after the request was lodged. The outcome of this application is still pending.”
Liverpool lost Alisson Becker, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino to COVID-19 infection before the Chelsea clash, while Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita are away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
