Everton’s match against Burnley on Boxing Day has been postponed due to Covid-19 cases and injuries at the Merseyside club.
The Merseyside club had an initial request to postpone the game and was rejected on Thursday despite boss Rafael Benitez claiming he only had nine outfield players fit.
While there have not been further Covid-19 cases at Everton, there has been a number of players unable to train who were originally on the ‘fit list’.
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A statement from the Premier League on Friday said the board had reviewed the decision “following further injuries to their squad”.
“They [the Premier League board] concluded that the club will not be able to fulfil their fixture this weekend as a result of an insufficient number of players available to play due to Covid-19 cases and injuries,” the statement added.
“The board this morning was able to make its decision in advance of Boxing Day to give clarity to clubs and their fans. We apologise for the inconvenience and disruption caused to those supporters’ festive plans.”
Benitez stated on Thursday he was “surprised” the game had been expected to go ahead, after two Boxing Day matches – Liverpool v Leeds and Wolves v Watford – were postponed due to Covid cases.
His squad endured a Covid outbreak following the game against Chelsea on December 16, while a number of top players including Richarlison and Andros Townsend are injured.
Benitez said: “With the injuries and the positives that we have, we were expecting that the game would be postponed.
“Like in a lot of other games [to be postponed] to try and keep the integrity of the league, because you are losing so many players.”
Source: Skysports
