Arsenal vs Liverpool match postponed due to COVID-19 outbreak

It was made official that the English Football League decided to postpone the Arsenal vs Liverpool match due to a severe outbreak of COVID-19 in the Reds, in which the team's coach Jürgen Klopp was infected. 

According to the EFL statement, it was decided to postpone the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final in order to comply with Liverpool's request, which had been made in previous days. 

Although it was expected that the match would only be rescheduled, due to the seriousness of the situation, the organization decided to change the dates for the first and second legs. 

As of yesterday, the EFL had not expressed any position on the request of the team that was to play at Anfield. 

However, as the competition's highest authority had been in contact with Klopp's club, the decision was taken to change the dates of the first and second legs. 

When will the first and second legs of the Carabao Cup semifinal be played?

According to the EFL release the first leg will be played at Anfield on January 13, 2022 at 11:45 PM ET. 

The second leg will be played at the Emirates Stadium on January 20, 2022 at the same time as the first leg. 

What did the EFL say in its statement?

In the same statement, the organization stressed that its interest is to protect both players and assistants and all those who could be infected if the first leg match was held as scheduled. 

"Having now fully reviewed the circumstances involved, the League has accepted Liverpool’s request after determining, albeit reluctantly, that a postponement was the only option as the Club looks to mitigate against the further risk of infection amongst its squad and staff alongside ensuring public health was protected by not travelling from Liverpool to London", was the organization's conclusion. 

Although the statement and the decision were taken to protect the health of those involved in the Carabao Cup, the news was not well received by the tournament's supporters. 

Some even pointed out that the decision was an act of corruption to protect one of the teams. 

However, both teams have already disseminated the information on their social networks and informed their followers. 

The most recent infection at Liverpool

While it had been decided that the team's coach, Jürgen Klopp would not attend the postponed match that was to be played, it was thought that assistant coach Pep Lijnders would attend in his place. 

However, it was confirmed today that even Lijnders was infected with the virus, which would have made it impossible for him to attend the game.