Benitez: Everton down to 9 outfield players, EPL rejected postponement plea

Everton manager Rafa Benitez claims the Premier League has rejected the club's request to postpone its Boxing Day fixture against Burnley as COVID-19 slashes his number of senior outfield players to nine.

"I'm really surprised we are playing this game," Benitez said during Thursday's press conference, according to The Athletic's Patrick Boyland. He revealed the Toffees recorded five positive tests since their last match against Chelsea on Dec. 16.

Benitez said Everton's five COVID-19 cases and six injuries meant he had just nine outfield players and three goalkeepers to choose from, so he promoted five players from the Under-23 side - all of whom are under 21 - to help fill out his roster.

The Toffees could immediately thrust Dominic Calvert-Lewin into action for the Burnley trip after a thigh injury has kept the striker sidelined since August.

Leeds United have had their Boxing Day game at Liverpool called off after reporting five COVID-19 cases among squad and staff members on Thursday. The league also wiped Wolverhampton Wanderers' visit from Watford from Sunday's slate of matches.

There is no threshold of positive tests needed for a game to be postponed, The Athletic reports.