Leeds v Liverpool and Wolves v Watford have been removed from the Premier League’s St Stephen’s Day fixture list after Covid caused further disruption to football’s festive schedule.
Outbreaks within the Leeds and Watford squads mean neither side are able to call on the 13 outfield players and goalkeeper necessary. The Premier League acknowledged the decision “will disappoint supporters” and said it “understands their frustrations at a special time of year when fans look forward to attending and watching football games”.
The decision has been taken three days before the scheduled date, a contrast to last week when Watford’s match at Burnley was postponed hours before kick off. It comes after an extraordinary league meeting on Monday resolved to continue with the festive programme but also to offer clubs and supporters greater clarity, and quicker action, over Covid cases.
Leeds asked for the postponement of their game with Liverpool after recording five new cases on top of existing illnesses and injuries. Their Thorp Arch training ground has been closed for two days this week.
“All of the cases we have experienced are asymptomatic which we believe is due to our high vaccine take up,” the club said.
Watford, who sit just above the Premier League relegation zone in 17th place, have now had three consecutive fixtures postponed, but the Premier League said that with players set to come out of isolation, “it is fully expected” that their match against West Ham on December 28th will go ahead. No similar message was relayed regarding Leeds’ game at home to Aston Villa on the same day.
The league is set to hold talks with Premier League captains and club managers on Thursday, to discuss the decision to play on, as well as Covid protocols and concerns the impact of a condensed fixture list may have on player’s health. This week the Liverpool captain, Jordan Henderson, told the BBC he was concerned over player welfare. “I don’t think anybody does take that seriously enough,” he said, “especially in this [Covid] period.”
The league said: “It is the clubs’ and the league’s collective intention to continue the current fixture schedule where safely possible. The health and wellbeing of all concerned remains our priority and the league will continue to monitor and reflect public health guidance, always proceeding with caution.” – Guardian
ST STEPHEN'S DAY – POSTPONED FIXTURES IN ENGLAND
PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool v Leeds United
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford
CHAMPIONSHIP
Barnsley v Stoke City
Cardiff City v Coventry City
Fulham v Birmingham City
Millwall v Swansea City
Perborough United v Reading
Preston North End v Sheffield United
LEAGUE ONE
AFC Wimbledon v Charlton Athletic
Bolton Wanderers v Morecambe
Crewe Alexandra v Wigan Athletic
Portsmouth v Oxford United
Sheffield Wednesday v Burton Albion
Wycombe Wanderers v Cambridge United
LEAGUE TWO
Bradford City v Harrogate Town
Bristol Rovers v Sutton United
Colchester United v Leyton Orient
Exeter City v Swindon Town
Newport County v Forest Green Rovers
Northampton Town v Walsall
Port Vale v Salford City
Stevenage v Crawley Tow
