Premier League: Aston Villa v Everton postponed because of COVID-19 outbreak

The Premier League has postponed Aston Villa’s Sunday home tie against Everton due to the club’s COVID-19 cases.

Villa’s training ground has been under lock and key since an outbreak of the coronavirus at the club last Thursday.

According to a Premier League statement, there is still a significant number of Villa players and staff still in isolation and has heeded the team’s request to postpone their match scheduled for Sunday.

Aston Villa has three games in hand in the league already, and their next game will be their rescheduled match day one fixture against Manchester City on Wednesday.

The game was postponed because of City’s progress in last season’s Champions League. They also have a postponed game at home to Newcastle, rescheduled for Saturday, January 23.

The tie against Newcastle was initially set for December 4, but a coronavirus outbreak at the Magpies saw the game called off.

Villa has played one game since the outbreak or the Covid-19, an FA Cup tie against Liverpool which was executed by seven under-23 players and four from the under-18s.

Without any first-team player, Villa lost 4-1 to Liverpool at Villa Park.

Meanwhile, Southampton and England Striker Danny Ings has tested positive for COVID-19, Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed on Thursday.

The 28-year-old returned a positive test last week and could return to training on Friday after self-isolating. However, he may not feature in Southampton’s Premier League tie against Leicester City on Saturday.

Ings scored the Saints only goal in a 1-0 victory over reigning Premier League champions Liverpool on January 4, the last time the Saints played a game.

Their FA Cup third-round tie against Shrewsbury was postponed due to Covid-19 cases at the League One side. The game initially meant for January 9 has been rescheduled to now take place on Tuesday, January 19.

Written by: Daniel Ademiju Idowu