Everton vs Leicester City postponed Premier League confirms
The match between Everton and Leicester City on Tuesday has been postponed after an application from the Foxes, the Premier League has announced.
A combination of factors including Covid-19 and the Africa Cup of Nations have left the visitors with fewer than the required number of players to field a side.
In a statement on its website, the Premier League said: “The Premier League Board accepted Leicester’s application as the club do not have the required number of players available for the match (13 outfield players and one goalkeeper) due to COVID-19 cases, injuries and players on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
“The Board was able to make its decision in advance of the fixture to give clarity to the affected clubs and their fans.”
Fixture chaos
The game at Goodison Park is just the latest of a series of fixtures that have been postponed in recent weeks as positive Covid-19 tests across the league have thrown clubs’ squads into disarray.
With the already-hectic Christmas calendar stretching managers’ options, absences have forced available players to feature more often which has increased the number of injuries.
And with the showpiece African international tournament also now underway, options for many teams have been reduced further.
Leicesters’ Daniel Amartey, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi and Nampalys Mendy all being called up.
Everton manager Rafael Benitez might have hoped to face an under-strength opposition with an eye on building off the back of the tight FA Cup victory over Hull City on Saturday and restoring some confidence to his side.
Andros Townsend fired him from outside the box in extra time to seal a 3-2 away victory.
But with as few as eight fit outfield players available to Brendan Rodgers, the Premier League has accepted the application for a postponement.
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