The Liverpool Offside - Premier League 2021-22 Match Coverage: Totteneham vs. LiverpoolZeppeline, Trinken, & Pink Badeshortshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51345/ltos-fav.png2021-12-19T13:30:38+00:00http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/rss/stream/226089842021-12-19T13:30:38+00:002021-12-19T13:30:38+00:00Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool: How to Watch and Liveblog
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<img alt="Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Yon54cohQ5CMhEdvGVd63WTiqSE=/0x310:3723x2792/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70293702/1237327565.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Live coverage of Liverpool’s Premier League match against Tottenham with team news, tv and streaming options, and an updated liveblog throughout the match.</p> <h2 id="h.xqab99p4bm2r">
<strong>TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR</strong><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/"><strong> </strong></a><strong>VS. </strong><strong>LIVERPOOL</strong><strong> </strong>
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<h5 id="nwnFTU">| Sunday, Dec 19 |<br>Premier League | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium<br>4:30PM BST / 11:30AM EST</h5>
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<h2 id="JLJx5W"><strong>PREVIEW & HOW TO WATCH</strong></h2>
<p id="4D7hjx"><strong>Full Match Preview:</strong> <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/12/18/22843696/tottenham-liverpool-epl-2021-match-preview-is-game-cancelled-postponed-covid-coronavirus-team-news">Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur</a></p>
<p id="lbrR4X"><strong>Television:</strong> Sky Sports Main Event (UK); Peacock (USA); Optus Sport (Australia); <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fprf.hn%2Fclick%2Fcamref%3A1100l4uLf%2Fcreativeref%3A1011l39034%2Fadref%3ALO&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHXA1GpbllI6ebg3zdww_P1MkZr2g">DAZN</a> (Canada); Star Sports Select (India); Astro SuperSport 3 (Malaysia); SuperSport MaXimo 1 (Nigeria); 102 mio Stadium (Singapore); SuperSport MaXimo 1 (South Africa); other listings at<a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.livesoccertv.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFDsBNye7lSS1YKUruzH_77Ci3V6A"> LiveSoccerTV</a></p>
<p id="Xuu3zS"><strong>Streaming:</strong><a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fubo.tv%2Flp%2Fsoccer%2F%3Firad%3D343747%26irmp%3D482924%26sharedid%3DTheLiverpoolOffside&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFTBepV5o0rAm2ZCvlDqS2pc76fAw"> NBC via FuboTV</a> (USA) /<a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fgo.web.plus.espn.com%2Fc%2F482924%2F651866%2F9070%3Fsharedid%3DTheLiverpoolOffside&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGDXzYDKPKpbyD3PzD26EvKlCUgsQ"> ESPN+</a> (USA) | Online Radio:<a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpoolfc.com%2Fvideo&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGuwj23dDrwRR1FqF-FaJA0JInvBg"> LFCTV GO</a></p>
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<h2 id="KMv0M7"><strong>LIVERPOOL</strong></h2>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> <br><br>Here’s how we line up for today’s meeting with <a href="https://twitter.com/SpursOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpursOfficial</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TOTLIV?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TOTLIV</a></p>— Liverpool FC (@LFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LFC/status/1472590049451651074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2021</a>
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<h2 id="uGHo5I"><strong>TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR</strong></h2>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Your team to face Liverpool! <a href="https://t.co/8c4nHEEPDw">pic.twitter.com/8c4nHEEPDw</a></p>— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpursOfficial/status/1472590074655215620?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2021</a>
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<h2 id="02L6Qq"><strong>THE LIVERPOOL OFFSIDE MATCHDAY LIVEBLOG</strong></h2>
<p id="qojY91"><em>Liveblog will begin shortly before kickoff.</em></p>
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<h2 id="IyZBS3"><strong>JOIN THE TLO COMMUNITY</strong></h2>
<p id="ULAv35">If you haven’t done so already, take a moment to sign up for an SB Nation account and<a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbnation.com%2Faccount%2Fsetup%3Fcommunity_id%3D373&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNE7cBLPRQkRWsQ4SPrE-2Un1a_7Vg"> join the community on The Liverpool Offside,</a> where we’ll bring you and your fellow Reds fans from around the world full coverage of every Liverpool match in the 2021-22 season in the Premier League, Champions League, and domestic cups along with breaking news, insight and opinion, and tactical discussion.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/12/19/22844935/tottenham-hotspur-vs-liverpool-premier-league-2021-22-coverage-liveblog-and-how-to-watch-onlineAvantika GoswamiCruyff Turns Anonymous2021-12-18T20:45:00+00:002021-12-18T20:45:00+00:00Liverpool Prepare to Face Spurs In “Strange Period” with Covid on the Rise Again
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<img alt="Liverpool v Newcastle United - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HLAtmXx2FtKb5Y0xVBwEtxTr-0U=/214x131:4151x2756/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70291836/1359512922.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Reds are set to take on Tottenham on Sunday in one of just four games that hasn’t been postponed—yet, at least—due to Covid.</p> <p id="LzoH27">Liverpool are, at least in theory, set to face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon in one of just four surviving Premier League matches this weekend, with six so far suspended due to a series of Covid outbreaks at a slew of English clubs.</p>
<p id="3uynTq">Between now and kickoff there seems every possibility that the Reds’ away day could be postponed as well, though for the time being at least it remains on with two Tottenham players and three of Liverpool’s out due to Covid protocol.</p>
<p id="PkjL0p">In the face of that uncertainty there’s nothing that the players to do in the meantime, though, other than to prepare as though it will be business as usual, and so Thiago Alcantara says his focus is on the game and three points.</p>
<p id="tkfGGI">“We are in a strange period but at the same time we just have to adapt to the situation and try to get through it,” said the Liverpool midfielder. “We want to win. We want to win every gamer—every title that is possible, every trophy that is possible.”</p>
<p id="b8HH9D">Opponents Tottenham have already had two games postponed, and there are rumours clubs are pushing for an impromptu winter break as Omicron spreads across England and impacts even fully vaccinated sides like Liverpool.</p>
<p id="45PT3H">For Liverpool, this all comes as the club have rediscovered their best form, while Thiago personally now seems fully settled. So for now, for player and club both, the focus remains on the pitch and the next match. Assuming it goes ahead.</p>
<p id="861x8Y">“In the position that I am, more assists and goals,” he added of his personal targets for the coming games. “But I am more than pleased with the team, that we win the games doing this kind of solid performance we do mostly every game now.”</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2021/12/18/22843991/liverpool-thiago-alcantara-prepare-tottenham-epl-2021-strange-period-coronavirus-postponed-suspendedNoel Chomyn2021-12-18T17:45:00+00:002021-12-18T17:45:00+00:00Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool Premier
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<img alt="Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EWxcxhfvn7ud5hcOr5WddGglHu8=/454x0:3672x2145/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70291360/1291766625.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Despite rising COVID cases and concerns, the Premier League insists Liverpool’s match will take place as scheduled on Sunday. </p> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="do21tv">
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<strong>TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR</strong><strong> VS. </strong><strong>LIVERPOOL</strong>
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<h5 id="h.lazk37c6ugo4">| Sunday, December 19th |<br>Premier League | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium<br>4:30PM GMT/11:30AM EST</h5>
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<p id="l34jI6">Despite rising cases and concerns, Liverpool’s game against Tottenham Hotspur looks set to be one of the few to go ahead as planned in this COVID-devastated matchweek. With six games canceled so far, the Premier League released the following statement regarding Sunday’s matches:</p>
<p id="S1ABDs"> “The remaining four Premier League matches due to be played this weekend are currently scheduled to proceed as planned. The Board assesses applications to postpone matches on a case-by-case basis, based on existing rules and COVID-19 postponement guidance issued to all clubs.”</p>
<p id="XQh5gC">That’s big news for Spurs, who have until now missed two weeks worth of games due to a massive outbreak of COVID at the club. Nine first team players, seven staff members, and an undisclosed amount of U23 players all tested positive for the virus. Making things more difficult, the North London team had just recently hired on Antonio Conte to turn the team around. All of his efforts were postponed along with their matches only weeks after he joined.</p>
<p id="DcuJwS">Of the nine Tottenham players who missed time due to COVID, only two remain in isolation — among them reportedly is Son Heung-min, one of Spurs’ best players. </p>
<p id="IBgPrK">Liverpool have their own, thankfully less dire so far, COVID situation to deal with. Virgil van Dijk, Curtis Jones, and Fabinho all received suspected positive tests before the match against <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com">Newcastle</a>. All three remain in isolation, and it’s still unclear if any could be cleared to take part in Sunday’s match — though it seems highly unlikely any would be involved.</p>
<p id="hkHJgR">Liverpool have momentum and fitness on their side as they head to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They’ve won their last eight matches in all competitions, following a shocking defeat to <a href="https://bracethehammer.sbnation.com/">West Ham</a> on November 20th. In that time, they’ve scored 21 goals and conceded only three to their opponents, picking up five clean sheets along the way.</p>
<p id="slh6wz">Spurs, meanwhile, started off December with two league wins, but have been sidelined ever since. While this could translate to rested legs and eager players on Sunday, it could also just as easily mean players who have lost their momentum and are still recovering from illness.</p>
<p id="6xtsrA">At TLO, we will keep you updated with the newest information regarding the status of the match over the next 24 hours. </p>
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<p id="h.8y1ddc6lu7ub">Predicted Liverpool Lineup (4-3-3)</p>
<p id="s1kjwd">Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Jota, Mané</p>
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<p id="clwgBc">It’s hard to guess who we’ll see on Sunday when (if) the players take the pitch, because of how fluid and rapidly changing this situation continues to be. Right now, van Dijk, Fabinho, and Jones are the three players we know have COVID concerns. Additionally, Harvey Elliott, Nat Phillips, Divock Origi, and Adrian are all out through injury.</p>
<p id="9wfh3y">For Spurs, the situation is even more up in the air. As mentioned, Son remains in isolation right now, and Lucas, Emerson Royal, Oliver Skipp, Bryan Gil and Dane Scarlett have all tested positive and will need to be assessed. Cristian Romero, Sergio Reguilon, and Giovani Lo Celso are out through injury.</p>
<p id="aSmiB7">One more who is available is Harry Kane, who will lead the line for Spurs.</p>
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<p id="h.rk2313z4jjtm">What the Managers Had to Say</p>
<p id="meA6xV"><strong>Jurgen Klopp</strong>: “In this moment, nobody else [is] positive but it’s pretty early still and the players come a bit later, so we will see.”</p>
<p id="K2ca13"><strong>Antonio Conte</strong>: “It’s been very difficult, especially because we didn’t play, our last game was two weeks ago, and it’s important to play, especially for me.”</p>
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<p id="h.nz6w2xtc9f2q">The Officials</p>
<p id="dTJekd"><strong>Referee: </strong>Paul Tierney. <strong>Assistants: </strong>Constantine Hatzidakis, Dan Cook. <strong>Fourth official: </strong>Andre Marriner. <strong>VAR:</strong> Chris Kavanagh. <strong>Assistant VAR: </strong>Dan Robathan.</p>
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<p id="GvcjkM">Kickoff is set for 4:30PM GMT/11:30AM EST tomorrow. In the meantime, The Liverpool Offside team will keep you updated with all of the team news and match buildup as it becomes available, along with providing a matchday liveblog and post-match recaps and reaction. If you want to join the discussion, sign up for an SB Nation account and have your say on the action as it happens.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/12/18/22843696/tottenham-liverpool-epl-2021-match-preview-is-game-cancelled-postponed-covid-coronavirus-team-newsepicskyline2021-12-18T15:40:00+00:002021-12-18T15:40:00+00:00Liverpool Premier League Match Against Spurs Will Go Ahead (For Now)
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<img alt="FBL-ENG-PR-LIVERPOOL-NEWCASTLE" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/crDzVRe2cT41HN6PJ6IYUBSzHr0=/161x0:3839x2452/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70291063/1232491478.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by PAUL ELLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The league have released a statement confirming that despite COVID concerns, all Sunday matches are still set to take place including Tottenham vs. Liverpool.</p> <p id="LZzBip">Despite every game scheduled for Saturday bar Leeds vs. Arsenal having been postponed due to rising COVID cases, the Premier League released a statement confirming that the matches set for Sunday including Liverpool’s against Tottenham will take place as planned.</p>
<p id="b0Ymqr">The Reds are scheduled to travel to London to take on Spurs with three of Jürgen Klopp’s players currently in limbo. Virgil van Dijk, Curtis Jones, and Fabinho all tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week, which kept them quarantined and out of the game against <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com">Newcastle</a> on Thursday. </p>
<p id="QgbHTW">“No, [the three suspected COVID cases are] not confirmed yet,” Klopp said in his pre-match press conference. “It’s an ongoing process, let me say it like this, but they are not there. They are fine apart from that. In this moment, nobody else [is] positive but it’s pretty early still and the players come a bit later, so we will see.”</p>
<p id="YxwtUK">Spurs had their own match against <a href="https://fosseposse.sbnation.com">Leicester City</a> postponed midweek because of positive cases within the team. Nine players tested positive over the past two weeks. Additionally, seven staff members and unnamed number of U23 players all also contracted the virus. Of those nine first team players, only two remain isolated, which means that they are fit to play. </p>
<p id="CY2WJv">Following Saturday’s postponements, the Premier League released a statement confirming the status of Sunday’s matches:</p>
<blockquote><p id="C7tzsI">“The remaining four Premier League matches due to be played this weekend are currently scheduled to proceed as planned. The Board assesses applications to postpone matches on a case-by-case basis, based on existing rules and COVID-19 postponement guidance issued to all clubs.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="IHWGmf">The situation is very fluid at the moment, so if either team suffers more positive cases, it still remains a possibility that the match will be postponed tomorrow as well. This is clear in the fact that, after this statement, the league did postpone <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com">Everton</a>’s match against Leicester City, which was one of the four counted in the statement above.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2021/12/18/22843680/liverpool-fc-match-against-tottenham-spurs-will-go-ahead-covid-postponement-premier-leagueepicskyline2021-12-17T23:35:06+00:002021-12-17T23:35:06+00:00Antonio Conte On Mohamed Salah: “He’s One Of The Best Players In The World”
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<img alt="Liverpool FC v Atletico Madrid: Group B - UEFA Champions League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wAYUKUob4F262t1JIWXEOoeSSQw=/871x0:4000x2086/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70289537/1351356353.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Tottenham manager spoke about how much Liverpool’s Egyptian King has improved since Conte watched him play in Serie A.</p> <p id="awvO5q">Tottenham Hotspurs haven’t played a match since December 5th thanks to a COVID-19 outbreak among Spurs players and staff. After seeing three straight matches postponed, they will finally take the pitch again when <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com">Liverpool FC</a> travel to London on Sunday.</p>
<p id="8X91m1">It will be a tough test for a side that haven’t played in two weeks and will likely be shorthanded. Perhaps the biggest challenge will be trying to limit the impact of Mohamed Salah, who is almost certainly the most in-form player in football at the moment.</p>
<p id="N6t0FR">“I think he’s one of the best players in the world,” Spurs manager Antonio Conte said during his press conference on Friday. “During the game, we have seen he scores or makes assists.”</p>
<p id="WtHtjH">This is likely an underselling of the impact Salah has had this season. The Egyptian winger has scored 22 goals and added another nine assists in the 23 matches he’s played so far. He has had a goal involvement in all but two of those 23 appearances, and he is showing zero signs of slowing down that blistering pace anytime in the near future.</p>
<p id="dkPoHP">Conte then recalled watching Salah play for <a href="https://www.violanation.com">Fiorentina</a> and <a href="https://www.chiesaditotti.com">Roma</a> before his transfer to LFC, and he praised the enormous strides the Golden Boot front runner has made since returning to the Premier League.</p>
<p id="AmBzyb">“He’s a very decisive player. During games, every time he has the ball he’s a danger. He improved a lot, I remember him when he played in Italy.</p>
<p id="Q3eB6M">“Now he’s improved in an incredible way. Now I think he’s one of the best players in the world and in every game he’s very decisive.”</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2021/12/17/22843085/antonio-conte-mohamed-salah-best-in-the-world-liverpool-tottenham-hotspurs-premier-league-covid-19WaterWorldIsMyNightmare2021-12-17T19:00:00+00:002021-12-17T19:00:00+00:00Jurgen Klopp Praised Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Form
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<img alt="Liverpool v Newcastle United - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uD3E2oD9th4UXWeA1QH0P-UZcnI=/0x0:5283x3522/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70287051/1359512956.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Klopp says ‘We adapt our games to his skills’ </p> <p id="jPxZqm">Even though Jurgen Klopp’s pre-<a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com">Tottenham</a> press conference was understandably focused on questions around COVID-19, the <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> manager was able to focus on his players a bit. To no one’s surprise, Klopp had a lot of positive things to say about Trent Alexander-Arnold.</p>
<p id="cyLa0D">“We adapt our games to his skills.” Klopp said, “He puts his skills into our different plans. He plays a different position on the pitch compared to the beginning because he’s a more mature and confident player.” </p>
<p id="6gFXPV">It’s an interesting admission from the Liverpool manager that the team now plays differently now as Alexander-Arnold has gotten much better. Klopp continued his praise of the scouser, but he was also realistic about how the player played last night.</p>
<p id="zMylIX">“He is a lot of things for us. It was one of his best goals last night but not one of his best games. He had two game-defining moments. Even when not everything is clicking, you can be the decisive man and he was.”</p>
<p id="E52ana">“Yes (he wants to score more), but he doesn’t wake up and thinks he wants to score more goals. He wants to improve his game. He has so many things he can improve and he is already a world class player.”</p>
<p id="n9R53Z">To say that Alexander-Arnold is just the best right back in the world kind of misses the point. He is a lot of things for this Liverpool team and all of those things transcend a nominal position. </p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/12/17/22841313/jurgen-klopp-praised-trent-alexander-arnolds-form-liverpool-epl-2021Mark Kastner2021-12-17T16:30:00+00:002021-12-17T16:30:00+00:00Jurgen Klopp Talks Covid And Premier League Break
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<img alt="Liverpool v Newcastle United - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0JZkcbVac7irGMD_MXCTAY07H34=/0x0:3599x2399/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70286323/1359410926.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Liverpool manager is fully transparent about Covid within the squad</p> <p id="5XFumJ">The Premier League is currently scrambling to figure out what to do about Covid-19 ripping its way through its clubs. Several matches in the past two weeks have been postponed, with <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>’s next opponent Tottenham Hotspurs being at the forefront of the postponements. Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp has been very outspoken in support of vaccines and in his pre-Tottenham press conference, he made further calls for clubs and the Premier League to be transparent about the issue.</p>
<p id="4UUuvG">“We don’t have anything to hide.” Klopp said. ”Our first and most important concern is that the boys are healthy. If someone has the flu and you ask me, I say he has flu. If he has a broken toe, I say he has a broken toe.”</p>
<p id="fbWM2u">Currently Curtis Jones, Virgil van Dijk, and Fabinho are all positive for Covid-19. They are all vaccinated and are not experiencing any symptoms. Klopp responded to criticism that vaccinated players can still get infected.</p>
<p id="N435BA">“I know all the anti-vaxxers will say Jurgen Klopp said they had the vaccine but now they have the virus. It makes it more unlikely to get it. Unfortunately they had the booster too late for the infection, if they are infected.”</p>
<p id="I5OmmL">A journalist asked Klopp about a league stoppage. With the calendar being in the festive period and the Premier League wanting the most from their TV deals, a stoppage would mean several matches for each team postponed. Without a clear plan for when the matches would be rescheduled to.</p>
<p id="QA6JxY">“I am not against stopping the league, I just don’t see the 100% benefit from stopping it compared to carrying on. Stopping means we stop now for 1-2 weeks. That means 5-6 games? When do you want to play them?”</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/12/17/22841253/jurgen-klopp-talks-covid-19-epl-break-2021Mark Kastner2021-12-17T09:00:00+00:002021-12-17T09:00:00+00:00Jurgen Klopp Braced For More Covid Cases After “Surprise” Results
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<img alt="Liverpool v Newcastle United - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RcXcvL7i0Lf1sFT-kCKQ2ZgE30U=/168x79:2868x1879/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70284952/1359429974.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Virgil Van Dijk, Fabinho and Curtis Jones all missed Thursday’s win over Newcastle while quarantining with more cases expected on the way</p> <p id="NX9em9">The worrying backdrop to <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>’s <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/12/16/22840013/liverpool-fc-3-newcastle-united-1-epl-2021-recap-man-of-the-match-jota-salah-alexander-arnold">3-1 win over</a> <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com">Newcastle</a> was the news before kick-off that a number of first team members were isolating due to positive covid test results.</p>
<p id="JD5wX7">The club confirmed that Virgil Van Dijk, Curtis Jones—only recently returned to training following an extended injury layoff—and Fabinho all received their test results in morning training and would be forced to miss the match. </p>
<p id="GH70FZ">While the Reds were fortunate that were able to field enough players to face the Magpies, Jürgen Klopp doesn’t expect the respite to last long: </p>
<p id="554TiU">“We hope [the outbreak has been contained],” Klopp said in his post-match press conference. “The situation is difficult for us, for the whole world. We pretty much woke up this morning and had three positive cases.” </p>
<p id="JtlYTs">“The process we follow now at the training ground is that before we enter the training ground, we do a lateral flow test and go back in the car. We wait for the result and in these moments, we had three positive tests. It’s obviously not too cool. </p>
<p id="af9cvQ">“We wait for confirmation, because there is still the possibility of a false positive, but for today, we couldn’t wait for that. </p>
<p id="Syxiz8">“I had to make the decision to send the boys home, so we were three players out, two of them would have obviously started today. </p>
<p id="1rhPGY">“It was of course not a reason to cancel a game tonight, or even ask for it. We will see how it now develops.” </p>
<p id="NucBJf">The outbreak is part of a wider surge of cases hitting the Premier League and much of the world with the highly contagious Omicron variant forced cancellations of six league matches in one day. </p>
<p id="p8U7wn">“This virus is now around us so long that it’s not really likely that it will stay at three,” Klopp continued. “The boys don’t have a lot of spare time to go wherever where they could pick it up. </p>
<p id="5teB3U">“All of them are fully vaccinated, two of them already had the booster, and it still can happen. That’s just how it is. </p>
<p id="4uw1a4">“But we have a really, really good chance that the boys get through it now without proper symptoms. </p>
<p id="gkCRO2">“So far, they don’t have any symptoms, they were more surprised than us that they had it. But that’s what you have to accept and that’s what we do. Hopefully they are quickly back again.” </p>
<p id="WDZGF1">Liverpool are scheduled to face <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com">Tottenham</a> this upcoming Sunday, but with more cases expected to come for the Reds, and the Spurs themselves having had their last three games amidst their own outbreak, this fixture also might be in doubt. </p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/12/17/22840912/jurgen-klopp-braced-for-more-positive-covid-tests-after-surprise-results-premier-league-newcastleO.T. Obaisi