Liverpool and Everton home games pushed behind closed doors

The Merseyside clubs, who were among the few top-flight teams that welcomed back 2,000 fans earlier this month, will now be placed under Tier-3 COVID-19 restrictions.

While league leader Liverpool plays its next three games on the road, including an FA Cup tie at Aston Villa, the club said its next game at Anfield against title rival Manchester United on January 17 will now be held without spectators.

Liverpool and Everton will have to host home games behind closed doors again after the Liverpool City Region was placed into Tier 3 of Britain's COVID-19 restrictions on Wednesday, both Premier League clubs said.

While league leader Liverpool play its next three games on the road, including an FA Cup tie at Aston Villa, the club said its next game at Anfield against title rival Manchester United on January 17 will now be held without spectators.

Everton will not be allowed to welcome fans on Friday when it hosts West Ham United, while its FA Cup third-round tie with Rotherham United on January 9 will also be behind closed doors.

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Both Merseyside clubs were among the few top-flight teams that were allowed to welcome back 2,000 fans earlier this month after they fell into areas initially classified as Tier 2 or high alert regions when a month-long national lockdown was lifted.

But the British government said on Wednesday that the Liverpool City Region would move up to Tier 3 from 0001 GMT on Thursday as a new variant of the virus is spreading across the country.

Under Tier 3 restrictions, all professional sporting events will be played behind closed doors until further notice.