Aston Villa planning to field youth team against Liverpool after coronavirus outbreak shuts training ground

No member of the club’s first-team bubble, from boss Dean Smith to his backroom staff and players, will be present at Villa Park for the third round tie after a large number of positive tests at the Premier League club.

Instead under-23s boss Mark Delaney will take charge of a team consisting of players from the club’s U18 and U23 squads, both of which train separately from the first-team and underwent coronavirus testing yesterday afternoon.

The results of those tests are expected on Friday morning and the tie will go ahead as scheduled, provided a high number of positive tests is not returned.

FA Cup rules stipulate ties should proceed provided a club can has 14 available players, whether first-team or academy registered.

An FA statement released on Thursday read: “The FA and Aston Villa are working closely together to try to ensure the club’s FA Cup third round tie with Liverpool can go ahead as planned.

“Final confirmation will be made tomorrow pending the results of additional Covid-19 testing.”

The club and the FA were locked in discussions for much of the afternoon after it was confirmed Bodymoor Heath had been closed, following what Villa described as a “significant outbreak” in which a “large number” of first-team players and staff were infected.

Postponing the match to a later date was not considered an option due to the packed fixture schedule, while the tie is also due to be broadcast live by BT Sport.

Villa, meanwhile, have held talks with the Premier League over the situation, with next Wednesday’s visit of Tottenham in doubt due to the entire first-team bubble now being in isolation.

The club revealed it had returned a large number of positive cases during the Premier League’s weekly testing on Monday, the results of which were received after training on Tuesday.

While those who had tested positive went into isolation, a second round of testing was carried out and produced further positive results, with first-team training cancelled.

Villa’s clash with Liverpool is not the only one to have been impacted by coronavirus tests with Shrewsbury Town’s match at Southampton postponed, after the League One club confirmed they would not be able to field a team.

Derby County will also be forced to field a team of youngsters in their third round tie at non-league Chorley on Saturday following an outbreak which prompted the closure of their own training ground.

The tie with Liverpool starts a busy period in Villa’s season, with Smith’s team due to play at least eight matches in the space of 30 days.