Aston Villa have confirmed that their Friday’s FA Cup third-round encounter against Liverpool will be played as per scheduled despite many of their first-team players and staff testing positive for coronavirus.&nbsp;

Villa were forced to shut their training ground on Thursday with concerns that they would have to forfeit their match&nbsp;against&nbsp;Jurgen Klopp’s side.&nbsp;

"Aston Villa can confirm that the Emirates FA Cup third-round tie with Liverpool will be played at Villa Park this evening," read a brief statement on the club's website.&nbsp;

As per reports, no first-team player will participate in the FA Cup tie with 10 players in the first-team bubble testing positive for the virus.&nbsp;

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With no Steve Bruce available, under-23s coach Mark Delaney is expected to take charge of a side assembled with under-18 and under-23 players.&nbsp;

The recent outbreak at Villa also put their upcoming Premier League matches in doubt. They are set to face Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday before taking on Everton on January&nbsp;16.&nbsp;

There are further concerns over the Premier League 2020-21 season fate with infection rising sharply in Britain.&nbsp;

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A record-high 40 positive tests were detected among Premier League players and staff in the week between December 28 and January 3.&nbsp;

Newcastle United’s match against Aston Villa in December 2020 was the first top-flight match to get postponed by COVID-19 outbreak.&nbsp;

Magpies manager Steve Bruce questioned the morality of playing on as the pandemic worsens.&nbsp;

"The speed which it hit our club within a week, and ripped through, is something which all clubs will be looking at now," he said.&nbsp;

"It's difficult to contain and it leaves people sick. Financially it's right to play on but morally, for me, it's probably wrong."&nbsp;

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Aston Villa have confirmed that their Friday’s FA Cup third-round encounter against Liverpool will be played as per scheduled despite many of their first-team players and staff testing positive for coronavirus.

Aston Villa have confirmed that their Friday’s FA Cup third-round encounter against Liverpool will be played as per scheduled despite many of their first-team players and staff testing positive for coronavirus. Villa were forced to shut their training ground on Thursday with concerns that they would have to forfeit their match against Jurgen Klopp’s side. "Aston Villa can confirm that the Emirates FA Cup third-round tie with Liverpool will be played at Villa Park this evening," read a brief statement on the club's website. As per reports, no first-team player will participate in the FA Cup tie with 10 players in the first-team bubble testing positive for the virus. ALSO READ: Arsenal exit for Ozil could be 'best solution', says Arteta With no Steve Bruce available, under-23s coach Mark Delaney is expected to take charge of a side assembled with under-18 and under-23 players. The recent outbreak at Villa also put their upcoming Premier League matches in doubt. They are set to face Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday before taking on Everton on January 16. There are further concerns over the Premier League 2020-21 season fate with infection rising sharply in Britain. ALSO READ: Coronavirus, Brexit tame Premier League spending A record-high 40 positive tests were detected among Premier League players and staff in the week between December 28 and January 3. Newcastle United’s match against Aston Villa in December 2020 was the first top-flight match to get postponed by COVID-19 outbreak. Magpies manager Steve Bruce questioned the morality of playing on as the pandemic worsens. "The speed which it hit our club within a week, and ripped through, is something which all clubs will be looking at now," he said. "It's difficult to contain and it leaves people sick. Financially it's right to play on but morally, for me, it's probably wrong."

FA Cup: Aston Villa confirm Liverpool match to go ahead despite coronavirus outbreak

Aston Villa were forced to close their training ground on Thursday after two rounds of testing returned multiple positive cases of coronavirus among players and staff.

"A large number of first team players and staff returned positive tests after being routinely tested on Monday and immediately went into isolation," Villa said in a statement.

"A second round of testing was carried out immediately and produced more positive results today."

The Premier League club's FA Cup third round tie against Liverpool on Friday is now at risk of being postponed.

"First team training ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup match with Liverpool was cancelled," Villa's statement added.

"Discussions are ongoing between medical representatives of the Club, the Football Association and the Premier League."

Villa are the fourth Premier League club to suffer a Covid-19 outbreak in the last two months with growing concerns over whether the English top-flight can complete the season on schedule.

Three Premier League matches were postponed last week due to outbreaks at Manchester City and Fulham.

On Tuesday, a record high of 40 positive tests were detected among Premier League players and staff in the week between December 28 and January 3.

Southampton's FA Cup trip to Shrewsbury has already been postponed due to a number of positive cases at the League One club.

Wayne Rooney's Derby will fulfil their fixture at Chorley with a youth team after nine positive tests among first-team players and staff.

Aston Villa were forced to close their training ground on Thursday after two rounds of testing returned multiple positive cases of coronavirus among players and staff.

Aston Villa were forced to close their training ground on Thursday after two rounds of testing returned multiple positive cases of coronavirus among players and staff. "A large number of first team players and staff returned positive tests after being routinely tested on Monday and immediately went into isolation," Villa said in a statement. "A second round of testing was carried out immediately and produced more positive results today." The Premier League club's FA Cup third round tie against Liverpool on Friday is now at risk of being postponed. "First team training ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup match with Liverpool was cancelled," Villa's statement added. "Discussions are ongoing between medical representatives of the Club, the Football Association and the Premier League." Villa are the fourth Premier League club to suffer a Covid-19 outbreak in the last two months with growing concerns over whether the English top-flight can complete the season on schedule. Three Premier League matches were postponed last week due to outbreaks at Manchester City and Fulham. On Tuesday, a record high of 40 positive tests were detected among Premier League players and staff in the week between December 28 and January 3. Southampton's FA Cup trip to Shrewsbury has already been postponed due to a number of positive cases at the League One club. Wayne Rooney's Derby will fulfil their fixture at Chorley with a youth team after nine positive tests among first-team players and staff.

Aston Villa training ground closed due to coronavirus outbreak

The father of Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has died after contracting the coronavirus, the English Premier League club announced late Wednesday.

Villa said 79-year-old Ron Smith, a lifelong fan of the Birmingham side, had been suffering from COVID-19 for four weeks.

"The Aston Villa family are saddened to announce that Ron Smith, the father of our current head coach Dean, has passed away at the age of 79," said a club statement.

"Ron, who had recently been living in a care home after being diagnosed with dementia six years ago, contracted coronavirus four weeks ago and after a short spell in hospital passed away with his family at his side.

"A lifelong supporter, Ron was a steward at Villa Park for many years and passed on his love of the club down to his children.

"As well as being a regular at home games, Ron was also there to witness that greatest of days in May 1982 when Villa lifted the European Cup in Rotterdam.

"The thoughts of everyone at the football club are currently with Dean and his family at this most distressing of times and we would kindly ask for the family's privacy to be respected."

Smith is not the only Premier League boss to lose a close relative to the virus, with COVID-19 also claiming the life of the 82-year-old mother of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola last month.

The father of Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has died after contracting the coronavirus, the English Premier League club announced late Wednesday. Villa said 79-year-old Ron Smith, a lifelong fan of the Birmingham side, had been suffering from COVID-19 for four weeks.

The father of Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has died after contracting the coronavirus, the English Premier League club announced late Wednesday. Villa said 79-year-old Ron Smith, a lifelong fan of the Birmingham side, had been suffering from COVID-19 for four weeks. "The Aston Villa family are saddened to announce that Ron Smith, the father of our current head coach Dean, has passed away at the age of 79," said a club statement. "Ron, who had recently been living in a care home after being diagnosed with dementia six years ago, contracted coronavirus four weeks ago and after a short spell in hospital passed away with his family at his side. "A lifelong supporter, Ron was a steward at Villa Park for many years and passed on his love of the club down to his children. "As well as being a regular at home games, Ron was also there to witness that greatest of days in May 1982 when Villa lifted the European Cup in Rotterdam. "The thoughts of everyone at the football club are currently with Dean and his family at this most distressing of times and we would kindly ask for the family's privacy to be respected." Smith is not the only Premier League boss to lose a close relative to the virus, with COVID-19 also claiming the life of the 82-year-old mother of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola last month.

Villa boss Smith's father dies from coronavirus - club