Premier League news live updates: Latest on COVID-19 meetings, Carabao Cup reaction, and AFCON – The Athletic
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Hello and welcome to The Athletic's coverage of today's football news.
Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea will join Arsenal in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup. Liverpool defeated Leicester on penalties after a 3-3 draw, Tottenham earned a hard-fought 2-1 win over West Ham, while Chelsea secured a 2-0 triumph at Brentford.
The semi-final draw sees Tottenham play Chelsea and Liverpool face Arsenal. Last night, both Jurgen Klopp and Antonio Conte called for the semi-finals to be single-legged owing to player welfare concerns.
Elsewhere, there might be no games until Boxing Day, but there are a host of Premier League press conferences, with Pep Guardiola and Conte both set to feature. The Premier League will also meet with players and managers to discuss issues relating to COVID-19 — we will bring you all the latest updates here.
Ed Woodward’s wine: ‘Paint stripper’ or delicious? We asked the experts
CVC’s bombshell €2bn deal, what it means for La Liga and why Real and Barcelona are against it
Exciting Bergwijn gives Conte reminder of his class after rusty start
(Photo: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
December 23, 2021 at 3:01 PM EST
Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has called for the re-introduction of five substitutes in the Premier League.
“It was decided every team could make five substitutions when COVID-19 started 18 months ago and I think it was the right decision to have more options to change players,” Rangnick said on Thursday.
“It helps players to save energy especially if they have only just recovered from COVID. England is the only country where they don’t allow five substitutes but you are still allowed eight field players on the team sheet, so you should be able to replace five.”
More on that story here.
December 23, 2021 at 2:53 PM EST
The World Leagues Forum has written to FIFA and the CAF saying the release date for players going to AFCON should be January 3 not December 27.
That would be good news for Liverpool fans…
(Photo: Getty Images)
December 23, 2021 at 2:26 PM EST
After Rafa Benitez says he has nine fit outfield players to take to Burnley on Boxing Day, questions have been asked about whether that fixture should go ahead.
What do you think?
Hard to understand why some games postponed while others given go ahead. How is Everton's situation tangibly better than those who have had requests to cancel granted? Why should they be forced to take risks?
Serious questions over integrity of competition & player welfare
December 23, 2021 at 1:47 PM EST
Textor is set to become the latest man to invest in Belgian football.
RWD Molenbeek currently play in the Belgian second tier, where they are third.
More on that story here from Matt Slater.
(Photo: Getty Images)
December 23, 2021 at 1:14 PM EST
Wilfried Zaha has been recalled to Ivory Coast's squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
Zaha was left out in November and had to refute claims he had retired from international duty.
Remember those England caps he picked up under Roy Hodgson nine years ago? Seems a lifetime away.
December 23, 2021 at 12:35 PM EST
Romelu Lukaku, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Andreas Christensen have all returned to training ahead of Chelsea's trip to Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
Lukaku and Hudson-Odoi had been afflicted by COVID-19, while Christensen had a back injury.
December 23, 2021 at 12:03 PM EST
Brentford's Ivan Toney looks to be in the picture after getting a few minutes against Chelsea last night in the Carabao Cup.
The striker tested positive for COVID-19 almost two weeks ago.
Thomas Frank plans to give Ivan Toney "as many minutes as possible" against Brighton and will start him if the striker is fully fit.
Toney came off the bench against Chelsea in EFL Cup as club manage his return from testing positive for Covid-19.#BrentfordFC #BHABRE
December 23, 2021 at 10:23 AM EST
Is Ed Woodward a better vintner than squad-builder?
We sent Nick Miller to find out.
GO FURTHER
Ed Woodward’s wine: ‘Paint stripper’ or delicious? We asked the experts
December 23, 2021 at 9:48 AM EST
The Department for Levelling Up will funded a return to Gigg Lane for the 2022-23 season if Bury can raise the same amount.
Bury were expelled from the English Football League in 2019 after 125 years of membership and placed into administration just over a year ago.
Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove said: "We are helping put power back into Bury fans' hands.
"The collapse of Bury FC is a stain on English football and the result of the game being ripped out of the hands of the supporters and communities who made it what it is by big business and corporate interest.
"I pay enormous tribute to Bury's supporters, who have shown incredible resolve in their fight to bring their beloved club back to life."
(Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
December 23, 2021 at 9:26 AM EST
Everton manager Rafa Benitez says his side have nine outfield players available after five tested positive for COVID-19.
Benitez was speaking ahead of Everton’s Boxing Day clash against Burnley, where confirmed the squad has had five positive cases of COVID-19 since they played Chelsea a week ago.
“Now I have to think whether I have 11 (players) fit,” Benitez said. “I’m really surprised we are playing this game.
“We have nine outfield players available plus three keepers. After we have to bring five young players that it seems, have enough experience to play in the Premier League.
“It’s a massive risk for some of our players and it’s not fair. It’s quite dangerous for us because someone has to consider that because of circumstances we may have to players who are not ready, have knocks or have to play out of position. Hopefully, Dominic (Calvert-Lewin) will be fine.”
Hard to understand why some games postponed while others given go ahead. How is Everton's situation tangibly better than those who have had requests to cancel granted? Why should they be forced to take risks?
Serious questions over integrity of competition & player welfare
December 23, 2021 at 9:10 AM EST
Fresh from breaking news of Cole Palmer's Newcastle loan bid being rejected, Sam Lee is back with analysis of the winter window.
Now we know City won’t sign a striker in January. Thankfully this morning’s mailbag wouldn’t have got anybody’s hopes up.
But there are some nuggets in here that are interesting, like some players thinking a Giroud-type is what City need https://t.co/ry7ZJ6TD73
December 23, 2021 at 8:55 AM EST
Pep Guardiola has insisted that Manchester City will not sign a striker in January despite the impending departure of Ferran Torres to Barcelona, while the club have no intention of allowing Cole Palmer to leave next month.
It can also be revealed by The Athletic that City have knocked back an attempt from Newcastle United to take Palmer on loan for the second half of the season.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Guardiola confirmed that Torres’ move to the Nou Camp is “close” but ruled out any notion of bringing in a replacement.
“We’re not going to bring in any striker in January,” he said.
Sam Lee has the full story here.
(Photo: Matt McNulty – Manchester City/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
December 23, 2021 at 8:29 AM EST
Manchester United are to appoint master planners as they bid to modernise both Old Trafford and their Carrington training ground.
Old Trafford is the largest club football stadium in the UK with a capacity of 73,000.
Speaking at a fans forum meeting, chief operating officer Collette Roche spoke of “exciting potential ideas”, although confirmed the club were “still at an early stage”.
Football director John Murtough also discussed the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was sacked in November, and the appointment of Ralf Rangnick as permanent manager.
Full story here.
(Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
December 23, 2021 at 8:03 AM EST
The Championship leaders will not be playing on Boxing Day due to COVID-19. Bournemouth now have the opportunity to pile the pressure on.
Our Boxing Day fixture has been postponed due to a number of positive Covid cases in the Birmingham City squad.#FFC
December 23, 2021 at 7:49 AM EST
The postponement of Liverpool's game with Leeds has brought unintended consequences.
Liverpool’s Andy Robertson will now be suspended for their crucial top-of-the-table clash against Chelsea on January 2.
Robertson received a straight red card in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur for a wild challenge on Emerson Royal.
The Scotland captain’s punishment was a three-match ban, meaning he missed Wednesday’s Carabao Cup win over Leicester City, and was due to miss Premier League games against Leeds and Leicester again.
However, Leeds’ COVID-19 outbreak has seen the Boxing Day game called off, meaning Robertson’s suspension carries over to his next fixture — against third-placed Chelsea.
More here.
(Photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
December 23, 2021 at 7:20 AM EST
The Premier League has postponed two Boxing Day fixtures, with Liverpool’s match against Leeds United and Watford’s game at Wolves both being called off due to COVID-19 outbreaks.
The decisions have been made due to the number of positive cases at Leeds and Watford.
The two matches are the first from gameweek 19 to be postponed, after gameweek 18 saw six of the 10 fixtures postponed due to COVID-19 cases at various clubs.
The Premier League said in a statement on Thursday: "The Board today was able to make its decisions in advance of Boxing Day to give clarity to clubs and their supporters. We apologise for the inconvenience and disruption caused to those fans’ festive plans."
(Photo: Getty/Visionhaus)
December 23, 2021 at 6:53 AM EST
Chelsea forward Hakim Ziyech has been left out of Morocco’s squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Ziyech has not been named in an international squad since June after he “refused to work” for the team, according to manager Vahid Halihodzic.
The squad is captained by Wolves defender Roman Saiss, Watford pair Adam Masina and Imran Louza also included. PSG right-back Achraf Hakimi is the side’s star player.
Speaking in June, Halihodzic said: "His behaviour in the last two matches, especially the last one, was not that of a national team player who, as a leader in the team, must be a positive role model."
(Photo: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
December 23, 2021 at 6:27 AM EST
Positive COVID-19 cases at Deepdate have meant that the fixture cannot be fulfilled.
Sheffield are currently 11th in the Premier League after winning their last four games under new coach Paul Heckingbottom. Preston are 15th.
United’s Championship fixture at Preston North End on Sunday 26th December has been postponed.
North End have informed the EFL that they would be unable to fulfil the fixture at Deepdale due to a number of positive Covid-19 cases in their squad.#SUFC 🔴 pic.twitter.com/0yoi45Q0DW
December 23, 2021 at 5:53 AM EST
It's not a good time to be a Newcastle fan, despite the takeover. They've lost their last three matches by a combined score of 11-1, and have been on the wrong side of refereeing decisions in each of those matches.
Eddie Howe has said that his side have “asked for clarity on decisions” after a string of controversial refereeing calls.
Newcastle have lost their last three games — versus Manchester City, Liverpool, and Leicester City — and each match has seen a major decision go against them. Howe spoke of a feeling of "unjustness" around the matches.
Full story here from Chris Waugh.
(Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
December 23, 2021 at 5:33 AM EST
Premier League managers and players will meet on Thursday to discuss a range of issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The highly-transmissible Omicron variant has seen nine games cancelled over the past two gameweeks, while several other teams have played with severely depleted squads.
On Monday, clubs decided to continue with the Christmas schedule. The postponement of matches on December 28-29 had been discussed.
Teams now all face the prospect of three games in less than a week, with some managers unable to rotate their squads owing to self-isolation protocol.
(Photo: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
