LONDON (AP) – The continuing coronavirus outbreak in Newcastle led to the postponement of Sunday’s game in Southampton, the English Premier League reported on Friday.
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Newcastle’s previous game, scheduled against Everton on Thursday, also had to be postponed.
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The league explained that a combination of coronavirus cases and injuries leaves Newcastle without the 14 players, including a goalkeeper, required to face Southampton.
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Through a statement, the league added that it was able “to make the decision in advance to give clarity to the affected clubs and their fans.”
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The decision brings to 18 the total of games postponed in the Premier in the last three weeks, including Norwich’s visit to Leicester on Saturday.
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Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp said on Friday that three of his players tested positive for Sunday’s game against Chelsea.
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Klopp did not name the players affected and said he remains hopeful that the London match will take place.
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“We have three new COVID cases on the team and a few more on the staff, so it’s not okay right now,” Klopp said at a news conference. “I will not be able to say it, but it will be clear in the announcement of the establishment” for the party.
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The French league postponed the match between Angers and Saint-Etienne on January 9 due to a high number of coronavirus cases in that first team. Angers called for the postponement on Thursday, saying it had 19 confirmed cases among its 30 footballers and that more than 10 are not allowed to play until January 10.
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He added that five staff members were also infected.
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