Aston Villa coach Steven Gerrard positive for Covid-19
The former midfielder’s side are set to face Chelsea on Boxing Day this Sunday
Aston Villa coach Steven Gerrard has tested positive for Covid-19 and will therefore not attend his team’s next two matches, the Birmingham club announced on Twitter on Saturday.
The former Liverpool midfielder will miss the home matches against Chelsea on Sunday during Boxing Day, then the trip to Leeds next Tuesday, if this last meeting is maintained.
Aston Villa’s home game against Burnley on December 18 was postponed shortly before kick-off due to positive Covid-19 cases in Villa’s workforce.
Three games postponed
Three of the Premier League posters scheduled for Sunday have been postponed, including Liverpool-Leeds due to positive cases at Leeds. Thus the continuation of the Leeds-Aston Villa match two days later seems very uncertain.
On Wednesday, Gerrard said it would be « a nightmare » to have to play two matches in two days with only fourteen able-bodied players and everyone at the club feared potential contamination.
“We had one of our players this week who was reluctant to get out of his car because he was showing symptoms and has a young family. Which we can fully understand, ”said Gerrard.
A total of 25 Boxing Day matches from the top four divisions of English football have been postponed due to the coronavirus.
