Covid watch: The club-by-club latest and how it affects FPL

The increase in Coronavirus cases has already seen 22 Premier League fixtures postponed.

However, Double Gameweek 23 – at least so far – has remained unaffected, with the Premier League recording the lowest weekly number of new positive Covid-19 cases since early December in the latest round of testing.

In the seven days up to and including Sunday 23 January, there were 16 new positive cases among players and staff, from 13,625 tests. Notably, it is the fourth successive week that the number of positive tests has fallen:

22-28 Nov: 3,379 tests; seven positive
29 Nov-5 Dec: 3,154 tests; 12 positive
6-12 Dec: 3,805 tests; 42 positive
13-19 Dec: 12,345 tests; 90 positive
20-26 Dec: 15,186 tests; 103 positive
27 Dec-2 Jan: 14,250 tests; 94 positive
3 Jan-9 Jan: 12,973 tests; 72 positive
10 Jan-16 Jan: 13,625 tests; 33 positive
17 Jan-23 Jan: 6,221 tests; 16 positive

In a new approach, Premier League clubs may also soon have to show proof of four positive Coronavirus tests within their squad in order to have a fixture postponed, in an attempt to avoid games being called off simply due to injury issues and international commitments.

With so much uncertainty, here’s a club-by-club round-up of what we know so far.

ARSENAL

Mikel Arteta was not on the touchline in Double Gameweek 21 after testing positive for Covid-19 for a second time.

The playing staff have also been hit by coronavirus cases themselves, however.

Two players – Albert Sambi Lokonga and Pablo Mari – missed the Gameweek 18 win over Leeds United, while Calum Chambers did likewise ahead of the EFL Cup quarter-finals.

Takehiro Tomiyasu, Cedric Soares and Ainsley Maitland-Niles were then ruled ruled out of Gameweek 19 after returning positive tests, followed by Eddie Nketiah and Martin Odegaard.

Cases have been minimal since, though Pierre-Emerick Aubamyenang has been diagnosed with heart lesions after recovering from Covid-19 at the Africa Cup of Nations.

ASTON VILLA

Aston Villa have struggled with coronavirus problems, forcing the postponement of last month’s clash with Burnley.

Their Gameweek 19 tie at Elland Road was also called off, though that was due to Covid-19 cases in the Leeds United squad.

For Villa, Steven Gerrard confirmed that two players had tested positive ahead of Gameweek 17. Respecting medical confidentiality, he didn’t identify the squad members affected, but Jed Steer, Morgan Sanson, Anwar El Ghazi and Keinan Davis were all missing – and the last three of those players were ruled out of Gameweek 18.

John McGinn was missing in Gameweek 19, along with Gerrard after testing positive for Covid, but has since returned, whilst Ollie Watkins sat out the Gameweek 21 visit to Brentford.

BRENTFORD

Brentford’s Gameweek 17 and 18 ties were called off, with the Bees’ Covid outbreak rising to 13 cases across players and staff.

However, they have since returned to action, with one of their previously postponed clashes against Southampton rescheduled for Double Gameweek 21.

Vitaly Janelt became the latest Bees player to be affected, missing out in Gameweeks 19 and 20, but has since returned as a substitute against Aston Villa.

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION

Brighton have had two matches postponed due to Covid so far this season, after outbreaks in Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United’s squads.

As for Albion themselves, Neal Maupay and Pascal Gross were absent against Wolves in Gameweek 17, with Covid thought to be the reason for their absences. That pair were declared available for selection ahead of Gameweek 19.

Shane Duffy then missed out on Boxing Day against Brentford, with Graham Potter saying:

“[We have] a few COVID-related issues, and one or two injuries. Shane’s in that bracket.”

It’s been quieter since, though Graham Potter and assistant manager Billy Reid did miss Sunday’s trip to Leicester City after testing positive.

BURNLEY

Burnley have so far had five matches postponed because of Covid and injuries.

They were missing four players in Gameweek 20 after positive tests: Nick Pope, Josh Brownhill, Kevin Long and Jay Rodriguez, with the latter two returning as substitutes against Leeds United.

Dale Stephens and Maxwel Cornet have previously contracted the virus, too, but are now out of their isolation periods.

CHELSEA

Thomas Tuchel revealed ahead of Gameweek 18 that Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ben Chilwell have all tested positive for Covid-19.

That group of players missed out in Gameweeks 18 and 19, and there were further cases reported, too, with Kai Havertz among the players missing out – although Jorginho was a “false positive”.

Mateo Kovacic, Thiago Silva and N’Golo Kante had previously tested positive for coronavirus but have all since returned.

CRYSTAL PALACE

Patrick Vieira’s squad and the manager himself were hit by a coronavirus outbreak ahead of Gameweek 19 but their match went ahead.

No players have been officially named as being affected but the Eagles were without Christian Benteke, Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Vicente Guaita, Nathaniel Clyne and Luka Milivojevic for the trip to north London.

Benteke, Guaita and Milivojevic returned in Gameweek 20, plus Olise in Double Gameweek 21.

Conor Gallagher has been a fresh absentee and missed two games, with reports suggesting he had also tested positive, but has since returned to action.

EVERTON

Everton had four unexpected absentees for the Gameweek 17 draw with Chelsea – Demarai Gray, Salomon Rondon, Fabian Delph and Cenk Tosun – but the club have yet to confirm whether their unavailability was Covid-related.

The Toffees’ Gameweek 18 and 20 matches against Leicester City and Newcastle United were called off due to unavailability within their opponents’ squads but it was Rafael Benitez’s side who were the cause of their Gameweek 19 postponement.

However, they have since returned with no further issues reported.

LEEDS UNITED

Diego Llorente missed the Gameweek 18 defeat to Arsenal after testing positive for Covid-19.

He was the first of numerous nameless Leeds players affected, with their Boxing Day match against Liverpool and Gameweek 20 clash with Aston Villa called off because of a shortage of players.

However, they have since returned to action.

LEICESTER CITY

Both of Leicester’s Gameweek 17 and 18 clashes were postponed due to a Covid outbreak in the Foxes camp. As a result, Brendan Rodgers’ side had an insufficient number of first-team players available to fulfil the matches.

The Foxes and all of the players originally affected by the virus have since returned to action.

Despite that, fixtures against Norwich City and Burnley have since been called off due to outbreaks in the opponents squads.

LIVERPOOL

Jurgen Klopp was not on the touchline in Double Gameweek 21 after a positive test for Covid-19.

The playing staff have also been hit by coronavirus cases themselves, however.

Virgil van Dijk, Curtis Jones and Fabinho all missed out on Gameweek 17 and 18 after contracting the virus, while Thiago also missed the fixture at Tottenham Hotspur after a suspected positive Covid-19 test.

That quartet were passed fit for the Gameweek 20 meeting with Leicester.

Alisson, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino were ruled out of Double Gameweek 21 after returning suspected positive tests for Covid-19, though the trio have since returned.

MANCHESTER CITY

Pep Guardiola confirmed that Manchester City suffered from Covid infections over the festive period – with Kyle Walker and Rodri amongst those affected.

Both were back in the squad for the 2-1 win at Arsenal, though Phil Foden and Oleksandr Zinchenko missed out after apparently testing positive.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Manchester United’s Gameweek 17 and 18 ties against Brentford and Brighton and Hove Albion were postponed.

The Red Devils had previously shut the first-team section of their training ground after a rise in coronavirus cases that led to Gameweek 17’s trip to Brentford being called off.

A staggered return to training was rolled out ahead of Gameweek 19, with Ralf Rangnick revealing that all of his squad were now illness-free.

Victor Lindelof has since tested positive for Covid and has had to isolate, missing games against Newcastle United and Burnley, though he has now returned, whilst Aaron Wan-Bissaka has missed matches too with a non-specified illness.

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Karl Darlow, Matt Ritchie, Joe Willock and Ciaran Clark were absent against Manchester United in Gameweek 19 because of either Covid-19 or injury (their manager wouldn’t say which), and all-round unavailability resulted in the postponement of Newcastle’s Gameweek 20 match against Everton.

Their tie against Southampton was also called off, and is still yet to be rearranged.

NORWICH CITY

Four Norwich City players – Lukas Rupp, Pierre Lees-Melou, Christos Tzolis and Josh Sargent – are reported to have missed the 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa due to Covid symptoms or returning a positive test, with the Gameweek 18 clash against West Ham United called off.

All have since returned.

Tim Krul then confirmed on social media ahead of Boxing Day that he too had tested positive, subsequently missing out in Gameweek 19, while Max Aarons, Todd Cantwell and Teemu Pukki were missing for Norwich in Gameweek 20 through “injury and illness”.

The Canaries’ Double Gameweek 21 clash against Leicester City was then called off, due to a combination of positive Covid-19 tests and injuries, though they have played since.

SOUTHAMPTON

Southampton have had two matches postponed because of Covid but in both cases, the issue was with the opposition.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side were hit by the absence of positive Covid cases Nathan Tella, Jack Stephens and Lyanco in Gameweek 19, although Tella returned in Gameweek 20.

Che Adams became the latest player to test positive ahead of the Gameweek 20 draw with Spurs.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Tottenham Hotspur’s Gameweek 17 encounter against Leicester City was postponed due to a Covid outbreak in the Foxes squad, but the Lilywhites have had issues of their own, having seen their clash against Brighton called off the week before.

The North London derby was also postponed due to an outbreak in the Gunners’ camp.

WATFORD

Watford’s Gameweek 17 tie against Burnley was postponed less than three hours before kick-off, with the club saying it had an “insufficient number of first-team players available to fulfil the match”.

The decision to call off the game was taken by the Premier League following guidance from medical advisors, while it was later revealed that their Gameweek 18 and 19 fixtures were also off.

Rob Elliot, Jeremy Ngakia and William Troost-Ekong were among the unexplained absentees, but the latter two have since returned in Double Gameweek 21.

WEST HAM UNITED

West Ham’s Gameweek 18 home tie against Norwich City – which eventually took place in Double Gameweek 21 – was called off due to Covid issues in the Canaries squad.

The Hammers have largely remained unaffected, but Michail Antonio missed the EFL Cup clash against Tottenham, whilst media reports suggest Pablo Fornals tested postiive ahead of Gameweek 20.

Lukasz Fabianski wasn’t between the posts for West Ham on Saturday, either, with David Moyes hinting that the Pole was absent because of coronavirus.

“Like every other Club, we’ve got some injuries, and we’ve got some COVID [cases], so we’ll have to play with what we have. Unfortunately, Łukasz misses out – he’s been playing so well for us this year – it’s happened, and that’s part of football.” – David Moyes

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

Fabio Silva and Yerson Mosquera tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the Chelsea match in Gameweek 18, although that match went ahead.

Wolves’ Gameweek 19 fixture against Watford was called off because of the Hornets’ shortage of numbers but Bruno Lage was hit by a similar shortfall ahead of Gameweek 20, resulting in a postponement of their clash with Arsenal.

However, they have since returned, though Ruben Neves missed the win over Southampton with Covid.

POSTPONED MATCHES STILL TO BE REARRANGED

• Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur (weather)
• Brighton and Hove Albion v Tottenham Hotspur (Covid)
• Manchester United v Brighton and Hove Albion (Covid)
• Watford v Crystal Palace (Covid)
• Aston Villa v Burnley (Covid)
• Burnley v Everton (Covid)
• Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford (Covid)
• Liverpool v Leeds United (Covid)
• Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Covid)
• Leeds United v Aston Villa (Covid)
• Leicester City v Norwich City (Covid)
• Everton v Newcastle United (Covid)
• Southampton v Newcastle United (Covid)
• Everton v Leicester City (Covid)
• Burnley v Leicester City (Covid)
• Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal (Covid)
• Chelsea v Arsenal (Club World Cup)
• Arsenal v Liverpool (clash with EFL Cup final)
• Chelsea v Leicester City (clash with EFL Cup final)

LAST UPDATED: 24/01/2022, 11am