Southampton dealt blow before Liverpool clash as key man tests positive for Covid-19

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Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy will miss Monday’s Premier League game against Liverpool after testing positive for coronavirus, the club have announced.

McCarthy was the only Saints player or staff member to prove positive after the latest round of tests and is now in isolation.

The club posted on Twitter: “Ralph Hasenhuttl has confirmed Alex McCarthy will miss the Liverpool game following a positive Covid-19 test.

“McCarthy is currently self-isolating at home, in line with government guidelines and club protocols.”

McCarthy, in his fifth season at St Mary’s after joining from Crystal Palace, has started in all 16 of their top-flight matches this season and has kept seven clean sheets.

Fraser Forster is likely to take his place on Monday.

Hasenhuttl hopes to return

Saints head coach Hasenhuttl is hoping to return to the dugout for the visit of the champions following a period of isolation after he recently tested positive.

Hasenhuttl missed his side’s goalless home draw against West Ham last Tuesday.

He said of his recent absence: “It is definitely different if you are not there on the sideline. But a good team does not need a director all the time – and we have a good team now.

“It is definitely a team that knows what they have to do. It is more important to use the time before the game to set them up perfectly and we definitely did a good job in the last 48 hours, and this was the reason why they were well organised.”

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