Liverpool Covid-19 outbreak included lots of false positives: Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said the Covid-19 outbreak which forced the postponement of their League Cup semifinal first leg against Arsenal last week included many false positives, with Trent Alexander-Arnold the only confirmed case.

Liverpool had asked the English Football League to reschedule the game last Thursday due to a “severe outbreak”.

Liverpool beat third-tier Shrewsbury Town 4-1 in the FA Cup third round on Sunday, with Klopp having to field four teenagers in the starting side.

“We had last week a proper outbreak and it showed up that we had a lot of false positives but the rules are like they are, so all these players who are false positives couldn’t play,” Klopp told reporters.

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“The only real positive came from Trent Alexander-Arnold and all the rest were false positives.”

Midfielder Fabinho scored twice while Kaide Gordon and Roberto Firmino also scored as Liverpool came from a goal down to win on Sunday.

They host Arsenal in the League Cup semis on Thursday before the return leg on January 20 at the Emirates Stadium.