Aston Villa have appeared to troll Liverpool with an immaculately-timed tweet about having little choice but to field a weakened side.
Their official Twitter account posted a picture of the very youthful Villa side sent out to face Liverpool in the FA Cup third round last season after a Covid-19 outbreak at the training ground wiped out their entire first-team squad.
16 debuts were handed out that day with Villa fielding a starting line-up with seven under-23 players and four from the under-18s. Five others came off the bench to make debuts.
Remarkably, the tie last January was level at half-time after 17-year-old Louie Barry cancelled out Sadio Mane's early goal before Liverpool's full-strength team went on to win 4-1.
The Twitter post comes as Liverpool attempt to get Thursday night's Carabao Cup semi-final, first leg tie against Arsenal postponed following a Covid outbreak that has closed their Kirkby training base.
Villa fans were quick to accuse the Anfield club of double standards in the comments given their team were given little choice but to use any available players to fulfil the match last year.
The Football Association made clear at the time that any club capable of mustering 14 players would be expected to fulfil the tie or forfeit their place amid a congested fixture schedule.
Liverpool's plans for the semi-final are in disarray after their training centre was shut down on Wednesday morning.
The move came after it emerged Pep Lijnders, the club's assistant manager, had joined manager Jurgen Klopp in testing positive for the virus.
Lijnders isn't alone, however, with further cases amongst the Liverpool playing staff to add to Joel Matip, Alisson Becker and Roberto Firmino, who tested positive ahead of Sunday's trip to Chelsea.
With Takumi Minamino, Divock Origi, Harvey Elliott and Thiago Alcantara injured and Mane, Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita at the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool applied to the EFL for the match at the Emirates Stadium to be called off.
However, as plenty of Liverpool fans pointed out, they themselves were left with little choice but to play a weakened team at Villa Park when the sides met in the 2019-20 Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
The game was played the day before Liverpool's FIFA Club World Cup semi-final and most first-choice players had already flown to Qatar. Liverpool lost 5-0 to Villa.
Villa, who are managed by Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard, travel to Manchester United on Monday night for their FA Cup third round tie.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are scheduled to host League One side Shrewsbury Town on Sunday but the Covid outbreak must surely also place that game in doubt.
madmrscrooge
0
No training ground No Klopp No Assistant And still you want to play Liverpools kids. Fine but with training ground closed where do they meet to decide and prepare for the match. Prepare the team squad and formations
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in there house jk I'm a Liverpool fan
Nemza
4
No training ground No Klopp No Assistant And still you want to play Liverpools kids. Fine but with training ground closed where do they meet to decide and prepare for the match. Prepare the team squad and formations
Solthyo
0
coz its small
Your pênis? I'm sure I never asked you that fąg
Vepaopsuz
0
Was it a semi final back then?
no but it does not matter
Benikmor
0
that is different. YOUR CLUB CHOSE to carry your strongest team to the club world cup. villa's whole team was forced to isolate
Was it a semi final back then?
Yucinostz
0
but Y changing the game day....in the EPL Chelsea played why didn't they change it EPL FIFA
Vepaopsuz
0
Liverpool also had to field a U-23 team when we had to go and play at the Club World Cup. The FA didn't give us anytime we had to play two games on two consecutive days but no exemption was made. So please don't cry over it. 2 games in 24 hours time isn't possible at all.
that is different. YOUR CLUB CHOSE to carry your strongest team to the club world cup. villa's whole team was forced to isolate
Roybcipt
1
it is only villa dont have ambition like liverpool..
Sucabklrsy
5
Liverpool also had to field a U-23 team when we had to go and play at the Club World Cup. The FA didn't give us anytime we had to play two games on two consecutive days but no exemption was made. So please don't cry over it. 2 games in 24 hours time isn't possible at all.
dhubow
0
Then why weren't Chelsea?
coz its small
Vibaelmnpy
1
And Liverpool played them with the same kids a season before when we got to play club world cup so nothing with and they were also happy
Zooilps
0
It couldn't get worse for Liverpool; on Thursday you're going to get what awaits you!
Are you not ashamed of what you are saying you already forget 4.0 that time you are in form more than this
Kekules
4
Postpone all your matches until salah and mane returned
Rubelmprtu
1
It’s not about being scared here. You’re even the handicapped team right now. Let justice be served if Villa played with 16 debutants as weak as they were, you can equally play with a number of debutants as strong as you are.
that's funny Liverpool also did it so hardly justice your just seeking a trophy because you know arsenal can only win the pointless ones you want us to give you a chance
FootballArtist
3
It couldn't get worse for Liverpool; on Thursday you're going to get what awaits you!
Somlpstuyz
0
Perfect timing, perfect tweet... Aston villa just save the day It's either the game goes on or Liverpool should just forfeit the tie let's move on
so u would like to be in final already without playing the game...so they better give u the trophie one time
Somlpstuyz
0
Perfect timing, perfect tweet... Aston villa just save the day It's either the game goes on or Liverpool should just forfeit the tie let's move on
But when Aston villa and all the other teams asked for postponement no one was complaining...Now that's Liverpool people are complaining....So much hate for Liverpool...i don't understand why....
XavierDery
0
Is Arsenal so afraid of meeting Liverpool that their fans all wanted the game forfeited? seriously? i never heard of more coward team as Arsenal
It’s not about being scared here. You’re even the handicapped team right now. Let justice be served if Villa played with 16 debutants as weak as they were, you can equally play with a number of debutants as strong as you are.
XavierDery
3
This is where the whole world will see how corrupted and biased EFA is. If it was any other team, they’ll be forced to play but when it’s Liverpool they’ll try to consider their proposal.
Willhen
7
Is Arsenal so afraid of meeting Liverpool that their fans all wanted the game forfeited? seriously? i never heard of more coward team as Arsenal
Solthyo
0
Aston Villa should have known that in EPL rules are different for big teams, I won't be surprised if Liverpool are given the exemption
Then why weren't Chelsea?
vikeilpr
2
Perfect timing, perfect tweet... Aston villa just save the day It's either the game goes on or Liverpool should just forfeit the tie let's move on
Nohabiortz
0
arsenal to the final without playing any match
Bikis2
2
Aston Villa should have known that in EPL rules are different for big teams, I won't be surprised if Liverpool are given the exemption
abeejared
0
don't postpone play the damn game.