LIVERPOOL and Tottenham stars were seen arriving at their respective training grounds to receive their coronavirus test results.
Jordan Henderson, Virgil van Dijk, Lucas Moura and Jan Vertonghen were amongst the players to arrive at training for their final solo sessions on Tuesday.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus in sport live blog for the latest news & updates
Jordan Henderson was amongst the stars seen at Liverpool training today
Lucas Moura arrived for Spurs training on Tuesday
Virgil van Dijk was seen at Liverpool’s training ground after PL players were tested for coronavirus
Jan Vertonghen was also seen at Spurs’ training ground
Premier League stars are set to receive the results of their first coronavirus test imminently as they prepare to return to group training sessions.
Manchester United are another club to have had their tests done – with the club doctor the only person allowed at the Aon Training Complex at Carrington on Monday.
Should players receive negative results, they will begin to be incorporated into larger training groups as they step up their return to action.
Team-mates will be allowed to return in groups of five but in a non-contact environment – what is being called “phase one” of the return.
The Premier League have introduced strict rules too, including the requirement for balls, corner flags and other equipment to be disinfected after every session.
Phase two will allow contact between players, while phase three will see a return of competitive games – but there have been no official dates for those introductions, yet.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain arrived at Melwood for his final solo session
Tottenham are ensuring staff are kitted out with PPE
Fabinho was seen leaving Melwood on Tuesday
Japhet Tanganga arrived for Spurs training in his Mercedes
Any positive results from the coronavirus tests would prove to be a major blow for the league’s hopes of returning on Friday June 12 – with Spurs expected to play Man Utd in the first game back on TV.
But Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher thinks it’s highly likely that at least one Premier League footballer gives a positive test for the virus.
Carra said: “I’ll be absolutely amazed if no one tests positive for Covid-19 up and down this country. I fully expect that to happen.
“I think the results come out this afternoon and it is something we should not get massively hysterical about if it does happen.
“I think it will happen and that player then has to isolate. But that’s bound to happen.
“It’s happened in other countries and it will happen in the Premier League.”
While a number of Premier League players, including Sergio Aguero and Troy Deeney, have claimed they are fearful of a return to action, Carragher believes most will be happy to get back to work.
The former Liverpool defender added: “Premier League stadiums and training grounds will be the safest workplaces to go back to and I think we’ve always got to go back to that.
“The Premier League are doing everything they can to make it as safe as possible.
“It’s never going to be risk-free, because it probably won’t be risk-free for maybe the next six to 12 months.
“But it will be as safe as any working place – and if the Premier League put that to the players I am still convinced the majority of them will want to play and train.”
European football under threat as government ministers veto travel exemption for sportspeople
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
