Liverpool’s Tsimikas tests positive for coronavirus and could miss season opener

Kostas Tsimikas is expected to miss Liverpool’s opening game of the Premier League season after testing positive for coronavirus.

The Reds’ new £11.75million signing complained of a fever whilst on international duty with Greece and has since been forced to self-isolate.

He hasn’t trained for the last three days and missed Greece’s Nations League fixture against Slovenia on Thursday.

The left-back is also ruled out of his nation’s clash away in Kosovo on Sunday.

Liverpool kick off the first defence of their league title next weekend at home to Leeds but Tsimikas is now unlikely to be available for that match too.

Tsimikas was not expected to start the fixture given he has primarily been brought in as cover for first-choice left-back Andy Robertson.

The Greece Football Federation announced a player had contracted Covid-19 but would not name who.

However Greek publication SPORT 24 have since revealed Tsimikas returned a positive test result in checks carried out by UEFA.

The rest of Greece’s squad have also been tested.

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An official statement read: “The Greek Football Federation was informed today of a positive COVID-19 sample on the results of checks carried out by the authorised by UEFA medical service among members of the mission of the national men’s team, which is located in Ljubljana and preparing for Sunday’s match with Kosovo in Pristina.

“UEFA’s protocol is being adhered to and EODY [Hellenic National Public Health Organization] as well as the GGA health committee were immediately informed.

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“The member of the squad who had a positive sample and was isolated for the last 36 hours for precautionary reasons from the other members of the squad, leaves the team tomorrow morning, while the preparation of the Greek team continues.

“The other members of the squad underwent a new test today in accordance with the UEFA protocol and the results will be announced tomorrow [Saturday] before the departure of the team to Kosovo.”

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