Aston Villa will be without manager Steven Gerrard for their next two Premier League games due to COVID-19.
As a result of a positive test, Gerrard will not be in the dugout for the Boxing Day game against Chelsea, which is live on talkSPORT, and the visit to Leeds on 28 December.
Gerrard will not be on the touchline to battle opposite number Thomas Tuchel when Chelsea visit Villa Park on Boxing Day
A statement from the club read: “Aston Villa can confirm head coach Steven Gerrard will be unable to attend our next two Premier League matches with Chelsea and Leeds United as he will be isolating after testing positive for Covid-19.”
Villa’s home game with Burnley last weekend was postponed due to an increased number of positive coronavirus tests among the squad.
However, the club will feel it is one of the lucky ones as the visit of Chelsea is one of six games still going ahead.
Burnley vs Everton, Wolves vs Watford and Liverpool vs Leeds were all called off before Christmas.
A Covid outbreak at Leeds, on top of their injury problems, was the reason for the trip to Anfield being postponed, meaning it is not certain Villa’s match at Elland Road in two days time will go ahead anyway.
Reports began circulating late on Christmas Day that Tottenham’s home game against Crystal Palace would be the next fixture postponed, but as of Boxing Day morning that is not the case. However, we know how quickly that can change.
Only 10 EFL games, meanwhile, are still due to go ahead on Boxing Day.
