Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has warned that his side could be forced to pull out of games if more members of his Covid-hit squad test positive for the virus.
Reds manager Klopp confirmed ahead of kick-off before his side's match at Tottenham on Sunday that Thiago Alcantara has become the fourth player in his squad to catch Covid, joining Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Curtis Jones on the sidelines.
Klopp, who has called for all players to be vaccinated, told Sky Sports: 'I am happy to play but the situation is really strange. You prepare your team but have no idea.
'We did lateral flow tests this morning and they were all fine. I think we have to fight through this, but next week, if we lose another player and another player, and then it is not possible. No-one can just push through these things.'
Leicester's trip to Everton became the sixth Premier League match of the weekend to be called off earlier on Sunday, although Liverpool were able to play on Thursday, when Klopp's men beat Newcastle 3-1 at Anfield.
After revealing that Thiago had registered a positive test, Klopp confessed that the uncertainty caused by the spread of the Omicron variant is playing havoc with his plans.
Klopp said: 'Jordan Henderson is the only one with proper symptoms but not Covid. He has a cold so we sent him home.
'It is really hard now, because [players] can be in [one day] and then test positive. We talk about human beings and I am happy playing, but we need help.'
Tottenham's scheduled trip to Leicester on Thursday was called off because of Covid, and Spurs stalwart Eric Dier said that the postponement of the fixture at short notice – their third game to fall foul of the pandemic within a week – was difficult for the players.
Liverpool midfielder James Milner echoed Dier's views when he spoke of his worries ahead of the action at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Milner conceded: 'It's not easy for anybody, in football or outside football. All we can do is be as ready for the game as we can be.'
