EPL: Leeds v Aston Villa game postponed due to COVID

Leeds United's home Premier League game against Aston Villa on Tuesday has been postponed due to positive COVID-19 cases and injuries in the Leeds squad, the league said on Sunday.

The number of Premier League games called off this month due to COVID-19 is now up to 14, but the league said its intention was to continue the fixture schedule where safely possible.

"Following a request from Leeds United, the Premier League Board met today and regrettably agreed to postpone the club’s home fixture against Aston Villa, due to be played at 17:30 GMT on Tuesday 28 December," the league said in a statement.

"The postponement is a result of the ongoing COVID-19 cases and injuries at Leeds which saw their Boxing Day match against Liverpool called off. The Board accepted the postponement application as the club does not have the required number of players available for the match."

Leeds's trip to Liverpool on Boxing Day was postponed for similar reasons.

Palace manager Vieira to miss Spurs game after positive COVID test

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira will miss Sunday's Premier League match at Tottenham Hotspur after testing positive for COVID-19, the English club said.

Assistant manager Osian Roberts will take charge of the team against Tottenham.

"We can confirm that Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira is self-isolating after returning a positive test for Covid-19, and will be absent from the touchline for today's match against Spurs," Palace said on Twitter.

Palace are 11th in the Premier League table with 20 points from 17 matches.

British media reported that the game against Tottenham had been in doubt due to a COVID-19 outbreak at Palace but the South London club confirmed about three hours before kickoff that it would go ahead.

Palace's trip to Watford last week was postponed due to coronavirus cases at the home club.