Liverpool reopen training ground with second assistant to prepare for FA Cup tie

Liverpool have reopened their Kirkby base in time for Sunday's FA Cup encounter with Shrewsbury Town after a severe coronavirus outbreak at the club.

The Reds were forced to request a postponement of the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final with Arsenal, scheduled for Thursday, after numerous players tested positive for Covid-19.

The Anfield club had to close their training ground on Wednesday as assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders followed boss Jurgen Klopp into isolation with a positive test of his own returned on Tuesday night.

But first-team training resumed on Friday with Peter Krawietz, another of Klopp's right-hand men, taking charge ahead of the clash with League One side Shrewsbury.

The German, 50, arrived on Merseyside with his compatriot in October 2015 and he will lead Liverpool in their third-round tie as well as taking pre-match media duties.

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Krawietz is expected to call on a number of Under-23 players for the fixture, especially as they have continued to train even as the first-team area at Kirkby was closed.

Klopp, Alisson, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino, all of whom missed last Sunday's 2-2 draw at Chelsea, will be out of isolation this weekend but it remains to be seen if they will feature against Shrewsbury.

Confirming the reopening of the first-team training area, Liverpool said in a statement: "The senior training environment in Kirkby was temporarily closed for a 48-hour period following a significant number of suspected positive COVID-19 test results among the playing squad and staff.

"The Reds' Carabao Cup semi-final away leg against Arsenal, scheduled for Thursday, was subsequently postponed and has been rearranged for January 20.

"After consultation with the relevant Public Health authority, operations have now resumed within the first-team set-up at the training ground.

"Assistant manager Peter Krawietz is currently taking charge of the team and leading preparations for Liverpool's next fixture, which sees Shrewsbury Town visit Anfield in the Emirates FA Cup third round on Sunday."

Liverpool last faced Shrewsbury in the fourth round of the FA Cup in the 2019/20 season, drawing 2-2 at New Meadow before edging the replay 1-0 thanks to Ro-Shaun Williams' own-goal.

With some confusion surrounding the rules regarding postponements in various competitions, the Daily Mail claims the Football Association insist youth teams must be fielded if first-team players are unavailable in the FA Cup.

In contrast, the Premier League will sanction a postponement if a club does not have 13 outfield players and a goalkeeper available from the first-team squad or 'appropriately experienced' youth players who have been named in a senior matchday squad this season.