Leeds United’s home Premier League game against Aston Villa on Tuesday has been postponed due to positive Covid-19 cases and injuries in the Leeds squad, the league said on Sunday.
Wolves’ game against Arsenal has also been postponed due to a combination of injuries and Covid-19 cases in the Wolves squad. The Premier League has agreed to Wolves’ request to have the match — which was due to be played on Tuesday — postponed.
Fifteen games have been called off this month due to Covid-19, but the league said its intention was to continue the fixture schedule where safely possible.
“Following a request from Leeds United, the Premier League Board met today (Sunday) and regrettably agreed to postpone the club’s home fixture against Aston Villa, due to be played on Tuesday 28 December,” the league said in a statement.
“The postponement is a result of the ongoing Covid-19 cases and injuries at Leeds which saw their Boxing Day match against Liverpool called off. The Board accepted the postponement application as the club does not have the required number of players available for the match.”
Leeds’s trip to Liverpool on Boxing Day was postponed for similar reasons.
Leeds said that while there were no new cases in the playing squad, the majority of those who returned positive tests ahead of the Liverpool game were still in isolation.
Leeds are 16th in the league standings with 16 points from 18 games.
Gerrard, Vieira hit by Covid-19
Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard missed Sunday’s Premier League match against Chelsea after testing positive for Covid-19. Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira missed the match at Tottenham Hotspur after testing positive for the virus.
Assistant manager Osian Roberts took charge of of the team on Sunday. Former Liverpool and England captain Gerrard has led Villa to four wins in six league games since taking over as the manager after the club sacked Dean Smith.
Villa’s league game at home to Burnley last week was postponed about two hours before kick-off due to a Covid-19 outbreak at the club. Palace’s trip to Watford last week was postponed due to coronavirus cases at the home club.
