The Liverpool statement regarding the three suspected positives reads: “Alisson Becker, Roberto Firmino and Joel Matip have been ruled out of Liverpool’s clash with Chelsea today after returning suspected positive tests for COVID-19.

“The trio will play no part in the fixture at Stamford Bridge and are now isolating.

“It follows news Jürgen Klopp will not be present at the encounter after also registering a suspected positive test.

“All other members of the Reds’ playing squad have subsequently been tested and received negative results.”

Breaking team news as the three Liverpool players with suspected positive Covid tests have been confirmed as Alisson Becker, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino.

Big blow for the visitors.

There’s also been another goal at Elland Road where Maxwel Cornet has equalised for Burnley against Leeds.

Spoils being shared in the relegation six-pointer as it stands.

Anthony Gordon has pulled one back for the hosts eight minutes into the second half and all of a sudden Everton are right back in it.

Jurgen Klopp will miss Liverpool’s crucial match at Chelsea on Sunday after testing positive for Covid-19.

The Liverpool manager is experiencing mild symptoms and now joins the list of three staff members and three players who have tested positive this week.

In Friday’s press conference Klopp did not reveal who had tested positive but hinted the cases would affect his first XI for the game at Stamford Bridge between second and third in the Premier League. “It’s not so cool at the moment,” Klopp said. “I’m not able to say who it is but it’ll be pretty clear on the team sheet.”

Klopp’s assistant Pep Lijnders will lead the team into the crunch fixture. Liverpool are one point behind second-placed Chelsea with a game in hand.

Romelu Lukaku’s name is everywhere ahead of today’s game…as Miguel Delaney illustrates.

No line-ups confirmed yet – that will come at 3.30pm. But here is a reminder of what we know already.

Chelsea are without Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva, Andreas Christensen and Reece James, while Timo Werner and Kai Havertz are both still on the road to full recovery from Covid-19.

Romelu Lukaku is set to be dropped after his controversial interview angered boss Thomas Tuchel.

Liverpool have most key players available, with only Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino, Nat Phillips and Harvey Elliott on their injury table.

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are available before travelling to the African Cup of Nations. Thiago Alcantara was left out of the defeat at Leicester and is set to be absent yet again.

Here are the half-time scores from the three 2pm Premier League kick-offs:

• Brentford 1-1 Aston Villa
• Leeds 1-0 Burnley
• Everton 0-2 Brighton

Danny Ings’ opener was cancelled out just before the break by a brilliant striker from Yoane Wissa as Brentford and Aston Villa go in all square.

Jack Harrison’s goal has given Leeds a precious advantage over Burnley in a relegation six-pointer at Elland Road.

And goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Dan Burn have given Graham Potter’s Brighton a health lead over a desolate Everton team. Dominic Calvert-Lewin also skied a penalty on his return to the side.

Thomas Tuchel has admitted Chelsea will keep refining their tactical blueprint in a bid to shake off December’s “bump in development”.

“We have the feeling we’ve invested a lot, we squeezed the lemon and squeezed the lemon,” said Tuchel. “But it’s like squeezing the same lemon over and over again and expecting fresh juice.

“It’s hard to take these results and stay positive because we know we can play better, but also everybody is trying extremely hard. It’s tough, we have now three games at home where we conceded late equalisers where we dominated all statistics and are purely unlucky.

“It hurts because obviously with six points more we would have a completely different feeling around New Year.

“But it’s sometimes like this, I’m sure it’s not the first time in my career and the players’ career when things feel a bit more heavy than in other days.”

Out of nowhere Yoan Wissa has scored a wonderful goal to equaliser for Brentford against Aston Villa.

The Congolese forward whips a sensational effort into the top corner from the edge of the box to send the Brentford Community Stadium into jubilant scenes.