Former Liverpool midfielder Christian Poulsen has been told by Ajax to stay away from the club due to fears that the ex-Premier League man could be infected with the coronavirus.
ESPN report that the retired Denmark international, who is now an assistant coach at the Dutch giants, is one of three members of staff being told to ‘stay away’ from the club after Poulsen came into contact with former international teammate Thomas Kahlenberg, who has since been diagnosed with the virus, at a birthday party.
Poulsen is often viewed as one of Liverpool’s worst signings from the 2010s, with the Danish midfielder spending just a season on Merseyside before being sold to French side Thonon Evian on a free transfer in 2012 after making 12 appearances in the Premier League as stats from Transfermarkt show.
Is Takumi Minamino good enough for Liverpool?YesNo |
The coronavirus crisis has had a major impact on many aspects of life in Europe, and in particular football, with games in Serie A being forced to be played behind closed doors and the Swiss Super League season being postponed until late March, with The Guardian also reporting that upcoming Premier League fixtures could be played behind closed doors as a way to limit the spread of the virus.
Liverpool this weekend were forced to avoid shaking hands with Bournemouth players in the pre-match formalities when the two teams met at Anfield yesterday afternoon, something that will likely continue in all Premier League and EFL matches until the crisis has blown over.
The Reds could also see their impending Premier League title win wiped from the history books should league officials decide to cancel the season, with The Telegraph reporting that there are no guarantees that the season will finish in accordance to the current calendar should the virus continue to spread, and with a former player now under quarantine due to outbreak, the prospect could be closer to reality than first thought.