Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will miss Sunday’s massive Premier League showdown against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after returning a suspected positive COVID-19 test result, the club announced. The Reds enter the match in third place in the league with 41 points, now 12 behind leaders Manchester City, who beat Arsenal on Saturday. Chelsea are in second with 42 points.
The club said Klopp, 54, reported mild symptoms ahead of the match and is now isolating. Assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders will lead the team for the match.
Liverpool added that further testing of the entire first team revealed no further positive cases in addition to the three that Klopp confirmed on Friday. However, three members of the backroom staff have returned suspected positive cases.
As another COVID-19 wave hits, numerous positive tests have resulted in Premier League games being postponed. Through Sunday, 18 games have already been postponed since December 12, including this weekend’s matches between Leiceser City and Norwich and also Southampton vs. Newcastle.
