Morning all.
Liverpool have asked the EFL to postpone our fixture against them tomorrow evening. However, there are rules which state that clubs must have less than 14 players available – including a goalkeeper – from their registered first-team squad. Players under the age of 21, who are not on their side’s first-team squad list, but have played at least one league match this season, may be counted in the 14.
Therefore, Curtis Jones, Tyler Morton and Neco Williams should be included in calculations. Harvey Elliott too but he’s still injured. The same rule also applies to any other contracted senior player at the club who is not on the squad list.
There are many other rules, but this one is key in my opinion:
- 5.1.3 any other requirements or directions of the UK Government and/or by any public authority, then the Management Committee shall use its reasonable endeavours to rearrange the fixture for the earliest reasonable opportunity (including but not limited to arranging for the Competition Match to be played at a neutral venue) which will not be later than the date of the first Competition Match scheduled to take place in the immediately following round.
- “Where the Management Committee determine that the Competition Match cannot be rearranged the Management Committee shall have the power to declare that the Competition Match shall be abandoned. Where the Management Committee declare that the Competition Match shall be abandoned, the Club shall forfeit the Competition Match, pay the opposing Club’s expenses in accordance with Rule 5.8 and the opposing Club shall receive a bye into the next round of the Competition.”
What constitutes ‘next round’ I wonder when there is a two-legged tie? Surely, that has to be next week’s fixture at Anfield, otherwise the whole draw process has been a waste of time as Arsenal are supposed to be playing the home leg first. I do think it makes a difference too because of the away goals rule.
I hope the EFL are honest with their decision making here and if Liverpool have more than the minimum number of players required, regardless of what age they are, they are told to play tomorrow night.
Right from the semi-final draw date, Klopp has complained about this being a two legged tie, he even suggested Liverpool would be willing to play at The Emirates if it meant reducing it to one fixture so now, he might get his wish. The cynic in me believes this has been planned all along, although I’d like to think the EFL will require evidence to support the Liverpool numbers of Covid cases. Shutting their training ground means nothing really, after all, Arsenal did that too so they could clean the place but we didn’t hear Mikel Arteta moaning.
Transfer gossip:
Arsenal are ready to grant Ainsley Maitland-Niles his wish of joining Roma with a loan deal agreed in principle, according to the Daily Mail.
The Sun reports Brighton and Crystal Palace remain keen on Eddie Nketiah – and would like to sign him in this window if possible.
How exciting.
See you in the comments.
Morning rico. Whatever decision they make, they better detail exact numbers! While AMN is not my favourite player by a long way, I cannot see the gain of a loan without an obligation to buy when we will be so short in DM. Unless we have two incoming players to replace Partey and Elneny?
Oh my, you Arsenal fans don’t half like a good whinge. I mean not just a moan, but a proper, full on, pre-menstral sob story.
In case you hadn’t noticed we are in the middle of a global pandemic that has has killed nearly five and a half million people (so far).
Morning Rico. Seems odd to me that Arsenal would consider doing business with any club that had Mourinho as manager. The man is poison.
Oh dear, this article hasn’t aged well. Check out the latest news coming out of Liverpool
Morning Andrew, Adam all.
I hope we tell Mourinho to take a long run off a short pier.
If AMN goes, we have to be signing a midfielder surely because we’re down to the bare bones and that includes a player who at any time could get sent off.
Really Jacob? Thanks for letting me know!
Arsenal fans whinging? That’s hilarious bearing in mind Klopp moans each and every week.
Phil, all we have is suggested numbers, but no names. Perhaps you didn’t read that bit.
I think the article Kev posted yesterday says it all.
Liverpool’s plea to have their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Arsenal postponed due to their Covid-19 outbreak has led to calls of double standards.
The request was submitted after the latest round of testing found more cases within the first-team bubble, days after manager Jurgen 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.
The first leg is due to take place at the Emirates on Thursday.
The plea comes almost exactly a year after Aston Villa were forced to field a side consisting of under-23 and under-18 players against Liverpool in the FA Cup following a Covid outbreak which ruled out the entire first-team squad.
The Villa youngsters did themselves proud, only losing 4-1 with Louie Barry scoring a memorable goal.
The current situation has led to Villa and Arsenal fans, plus supporters of other clubs, asking why the Reds cannot do the same.
Liverpool took on Villa with a youth team in the League Cup in 2019 when their first team was competing at the Club World Championship.
One Villa fan took to Twitter to write: “Liverpool are requesting their cup match against Arsenal to be cancelled because a ride in Covid cases. I say okay play with their youth team, Villa had to albeit that was the FA cup. Will this happen. Probably not as they a top 6 team and unfairness doesn’t apply.
(From the Birmingham Mail)
Bloody Scousers doing what’s they do best-playing the victim lol
Pfft.
Morning all.
Morning Rico and All
Klopp doesn’t trust his younger players, that’s why he wants the match cancelled.
Scott hope you get well soon
Morning Geoff, I think the same could be said for many managers. It’s a semi-final so they’ll want the strongest team playing.
Morning Rico, just make the game a one off with no away goals rule and play it at the Emirates, job done.
It’s interesting that so few fans of other clubs have such little sympathy with Liverpool, could it be the feelings of entitlement that emanate from Anfield and it’s fans?
Thanks Geoff.
No dramas so far, just a slight temperature, slight headache and scratchy throat.
See what happens the next few days.
Rico, I have no issue with Klopp trying to have it postponed, but if it is, it’s ridiculous imo
Any manager would try, but how many would succeed?
Morning Kev, yep, I’d be happy with that and that’s what Klopp wanted in the first place.
They do seem to think they’re a cut above the rest. Klopp is a good manager but boy does he moan when things don’t go his way.
Me neither Scott, but it would need to be played before next week’s match imo.
Arsenal have been charged by the FA for failing to control their players against City.
Why does that not surprise me..
Just checked out News Now liverpool on Phil’s advice and apart from an article from talk shite there are little facts available other than their coaching staff seem to have spread it about in their fabled boot room , God knows what they are smoking up there.
They all of course mention that their 3 players have gone to Africa but have ignored the fact that Arsenal have also lost 4 players to the competition .
If , as that luminary Danny Mills suggested , Liverpool play their under 23 team then I hope that we field our strongest team , go for the throat and put the tie to bed before they suddenly make full recoveries in time for the second leg.
Having said all of that I wouldn’t trust Liverpool or the EFL to come up with any real truth , they will try to bend the rules to their advantage because that’s what they do .
That’s exactly my point, they’re quoting numbers but no evidence of which players. The EFL should get to the bottom of it. Perhaps.
Absolutely agree re the team selection.
Rico, City should’ve been charged for controlling the officials lol
😂 Scott
We will just have to man up take the fine or if we look like getting too close to third place a points reduction . And noody will ever ask what caused the situation in the first place.
no body that should be.
Potter, funny that.
Amazing how the media won’t ask the hard questions.
Rumours are abounding that it’s off , which means as it gets rescheduled a league match must get put back , which means their players will be back in time to play in it.
They should make a rule that in the event of the ACON returnees getting back , they are suspended for that game .
Scott they don’t want the answer . Take the controversy away and they don’t have a job.
That’s true, Potter.
God morning all.
Players absent due to the ACON should not count towards the requirements for the postponement of matches. The clubs have known for a year which players were likely to be called up by their countries and should have put in place plans to mitigate the disruption caused to their fixture list.
Why should Arsenal be penalised by fixture congestion just because Liverpool have failed to maintain the health and fitness of numerous members of their playing and backroom staff.
To pile a bit more pressure on the EFL, Arsenal should publicly announce that are ready and willing to play the game at any time and at any venue. It would then be up to Liverpool to play the fixture or forfeit the tie.
I thought you meant Noddy for a second Potter. Lol
I don’t think they count anyway Cicero, only injuries and Covid.
Nottingham Forest won’t be happy as a postponement of the 1st leg will probably mean a stronger and rested Arsenal team at the City Ground – we owe them one so I hope we don’t just beat them but smash them…
If the officials fine or take points from us over man city match I wonder what would happen if Arsenal refused to except the findings and take it to court,
Furthermore why has man city not been charged for failing to control their players for taking off their shirt and provoking the Arsenal fans.
I’ll answer that Geoff, the FA are afraid of Man City and their lawyers that’s why City get a pass every time.
We all knew this was coming, the charges from the FA and it’s the usual diversionary tactics of a regulatory body which is under the spotlight and is desperate to change the narrative.
Watch Arsenal get totally stitched up in the League Cup, when it’s played…
Liverpool closing their training ground is just a ploy, Leyton Orient were thrown out of the FA Cup last season when they couldn’t field a team vs Spurs, but that’s Leyton Orient and they’re just collateral…
With every decision we see from the FA, the Football League, the Premier League and the Shockley Park mafioso we see how our game is being, if not fixed exactly, but it’s being ‘managed’ so that the right clubs dominate. Usually the clubs with the richest and most shadowy people behind them…
I can’t see us being docked points for the City incident, no other club get that these day. Not in the PL anyway.
Me too Kev, I hope we batter Forest.
It’s official, our game tomorrow has been postponed..
AFC.com:
We are disappointed to confirm that our Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool on Thursday 6 January has been postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Liverpool squad and staff.
As a result of the postponement, the order of the matches has been changed.
The first of the two legs will now be played at Anfield on 13 January at 7.45pm.
The return leg will now be at Emirates Stadium on Thursday 20 January at 7.45pm.
Yep, we get the 2nd leg, that seems fair, but the away goals rule should be scrapped and if we’re even after two games then let it go to penalties…
Now let’s give Forest a right pasting this weekend, I can’t stand their fans…
The match was postponed.
The City player that taking offhis shir was penalized with a yellow card
Hi Rico/Kev.. Forest have an outbreak in their squad also… fingers crossed it goes ahead; would love some payback 😉
As for the scousers, nothing surprises me, hopefully if the Forest game goes ahead at least we’ll have Gabriel back for the cup. We play Burnley 2 days later (22) so surely that’ll be moved??
Hi Sue, Forest recently took striker Keenan Davis on loan from Villa until the summer, I know zero about him but I’d guess he’ll be involved?
Harry Arter has also returned to the City Ground from an unsuccessful loan at Charlton where he only played 5 games, but he’ll be available unless he’s cup-tied?
And today Forest just announced the signing of defender Steve Cook from Bournemouth and he certainly won’t be cup-tied.
So hopefully the FA won’t cancel another game, particularly as it’s on TV and the FA would need to repay ITV for the rights to show it live.
Good news for Arteta, he has finally found someone who has a worse record than Xhaka.
Yep it’s our assistant coach.
Matches coach = 1
Win = 0
Loses = 1
Red cards = 1
Yellow cards = a few
And finally a fine coming in the post for not controlling his players.
Arteta job is quite safe at the moment.
😊
Arsenal already have to reschedule Chelsea (a), Wolves (h) and Liverpool (h) in the Premier League so anymore postponements will really cause a logjam especially as Chelsea and Liverpool are certain to progress in the FACup as well as europe.
Yes Sue I think it’s a certainty that the Burnley game will be moved to a Sunday, or maybe a Monday?
Hi Sue, good to see you back, I thought you’d left us.
Agree re Forest, we need it to go ahead. Sambi needs some game time.
Looks like Balogun is heading to Middlesbrough on loan.
Sky Sports.
Philippe Coutinho set to agree to move to a Premier League club by the weekend.
Five Premier League clubs are trying to sign him as well as clubs abroad.
He wants to return to England and sign for an ambitious club where he can play regularly.
He will decide his next club before the weekend.
Same as always guys-two sets off rules lol
Geoff, glad your warming to Mikel hahahaha
Aww thanks, Rico 😊 Hope you had an enjoyable Christmas – would’ve been even better had there been a Gavin and Stacey special 😉 I was at the City game – pretty depressing journey home.. so close yet so far!
So our Burnley fixture has been moved – 23rd @2pm..
Kev.. I agree about some Forest fans; not all though as my Dad has a soft spot for them [as well as Reading]. I said we’ll go easy on them – 5-0 should do!!
Surely a reunion with Stevie G at Villa, Rico?
Pool can’t play us but their game against Shrewsbury on Sunday is still going ahead! They make me sick…
I did thanks Sue, hope you did too.
City was painful and positive at the same time.
Possibly Sue, or Toots.
They do me too, to the teeth.
So Rick Parry ex ceo of Liverpool made the decision
You couldn’t make it up!
I believe in karma though.
Chelsea 2-0 up
Sarr red card?
VAR bottled it again?
Hiya Kev,
If It’s the challenge I think it is, it looked a shocker, but I ended up seeing a different angle and it was as clean as a whistle.
Commentators were blowing up, the crowd was but again, if it’s the one I think, all ball and perfectly timed.
Nice to see them lose 🙂
New post up.