Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard says his team’s match against Leeds United next week should be called off. Leeds United are due to host Villa at Elland Road on December 28, just two days after the Whites play Liverpool and Villa face Chelsea on Boxing Day.
Steven Gerrard said: “For me, the biggest thing here is footballers should never be expected to play within two days so, whether Covid is here or not, player welfare if you want to talk about that. To be asked to play on the 26th and the 28th, for any manager or player, that’s not right. Especially, that shouldn’t be right off the back of Covid, and players and squads being short, and the many issues around each squad up and down the country.”
Leed United’s match against Arsenal was the only Premier League fixture to survive last Saturday, with all other five matches that were scheduled being called off due to Covid outbreaks, including Villa’s clash with Burnley.
Steven Gerrard continued: “I think [not playing the match against Leeds] should come into consideration in the coming days and within the next week, and I hope common sense prevails. But I’m not one who wants a circuit breaker or has an opinion on it, with all due respect.”
The Premier League has said that scheduled fixtures will continue to be played.
