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Liverpool's League Cup semifinal match vs. Arsenal postponed

John Powell / Liverpool FC / Getty

The first leg of Liverpool's League Cup semifinal against Arsenal has been postponed due to a "severe" COVID-19 outbreak that has reduced the Reds' player availability, the English Football League announced Wednesday.

The outbreak had already forced the closure of Liverpool's training ground and the cancellation of their first-team practice session Tuesday.

The first leg - which was to be played at Emirates Stadium on Thursday - will now take place at Anfield on Jan. 13. The second leg is scheduled for Jan. 20 at the Emirates.

"Having now fully reviewed the circumstances ... 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 traveling from Liverpool to London," the EFL said in a statement.

The Reds' COVID-19 crisis worsened when assistant coach Pepijn Lijnders became one of "multiple players and staff" to test positive Wednesday. Jurgen Klopp has been isolating due to a positive test, and Alisson, Roberto Firmino, and Joel Matip were late absentees from Sunday's 2-2 draw at Chelsea because of suspected positives. Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Naby Keita also left for the Africa Cup of Nations, and Thiago, Takumi Minamino, and Divock Origi are out with injuries.

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