If they only listened to Rafa when he spoke: Everton vs Burnley tie postponed

The third postponed game so far.

After Liverpool vs Leeds and Wolverhampton vs Watford, the EPL has decided to postpone Everton's Boxing Day fixture against Burnley.

A number of Toffee's top players, including Richarlison and Andros Townsend, are injured, while a Covid-19 outbreak hits others.

Liverpool vs Leeds and Wolves vs Watford postponed because of Covid-19 outbreak

A statement from the Premier League on Friday said the board had reviewed the decision "following further injuries to their squad".

"They [the Premier League board] concluded that the club will not be able to fulfil their fixture this weekend as a result of an insufficient number of players available to play due to Covid-19 cases and injuries," the statement added.

"The board this morning was able to make its decision in advance of Boxing Day to give clarity to clubs and their fans. We apologise for the inconvenience and disruption caused to those supporters' festive plans."

Everton coach Rafa Benitez said on Thursday he was "surprised" the game had been expected to go ahead after two Boxing Day matches - Liverpool v Leeds and Wolves v Watford - were postponed due to Covid cases.

"With the injuries and the positives that we have, we were expecting that the game would be postponed.

"Like in a lot of other games [to be postponed] to try and keep the integrity of the league, because you are losing so many players."

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND 19

Liverpool - Leeds United POSTPONED

Wolverhampton - Watford POSTPONED

Burnley - Everton POSTPONED

Sunday

18.00: (1.80) Tottenham (3.70) Crystal Palace (5.00)

18.00: (1.23) Man.City (7.25) Leicester (13.0)

18.00: (1.90) West Ham (3.60) Southampton (4.40)

18.00: (8.50) Norwich (4.50) Arsenal (1.45)

20.30: (5.10) Aston Villa (3.60) Chelsea (1.80)

23.00: (2.05) Brighton (3.50) Brentford (3.90)

**odds are subject to change