EFL has accepted Liverpool’s request for postponement of their League Cup semi final match against Arsenal

Liverpool announced earlier on Wednesday their training ground would be closed for at least 48 hours and that Jurgen Klopp’s assistant, Pep Lijnders, had tested positive. Lijnders was due to take the team as Klopp himself is also isolating.

Our Carabao Cup semi-final, first-leg fixture with Arsenal on Thursday has been postponed.

We would like to place on record our thanks to the EFL and Arsenal for their understanding, as well as supporters of both clubs, as we continue to navigate through this challenging period.

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 5, 2022

A request for postponement was submitted on Tuesday after the latest round of testing found more cases within the first-team bubble. Klopp and three players – Alisson Becker, Roberto Firmino and Joel Matip – were forced to miss Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea after testing positive.

An EFL statement on Wednesday confirmed the rearranged fixture will now be played in a fortnight on Thursday January 20 and will be treated as the second leg semi-final

• First leg new date: Thursday January 13 – Liverpool vs Arsenal – kick-off 7.45pm
• Second leg new date: Thursday January 20 – Arsenal vs Liverpool – kick-off 7.45pm

Rule 5.1 of the Carabao Cup competition states a club has to forfeit a match should they not be able to complete it before the next round is scheduled.

However, Liverpool avoided forfeiting due to the final being scheduled for February 27. Effectively, Arsenal and Liverpool had until that date to schedule in both legs.

Liverpool released a statement, which said: “The latest round of testing on Tuesday returned a significant number of positives, including Pepijn Lijnders, who was due to take charge of the Reds at Emirates Stadium. The outbreak has left Liverpool without a sufficient number of players and staff to fulfil the contest as originally scheduled. Liverpool Football Club would like to place on record its thanks to the EFL and Arsenal for their understanding, as well as supporters of both clubs, as we continue to navigate through this challenging period.”

Liverpool were without a total of nine players for the match at Chelsea through illness and injury, and have subsequently lost Mohamed Salah, Naby Keita and Sadio Mane to Africa Cup of Nations duty.