Photo: Mail Online

Manchester City's Monday night clash with the Everton football team has been postponed after five members of Pep Guardiola's first-team group tested positive for coronavirus. 

Iran PressEurope: The news comes after Kyle Walker, Gabriel Jesus, and two City staff members returned positive tests, missing the Boxing Day win over Newcastle, Mail Online reported.

The virus has now spread within City's bubble, meaning their game against high-flying Everton at Goodison Park will now no longer take place on Monday and Sunday's big fixture against Chelsea is also at risk. 

The game had been scheduled to take place at 8:00 pm so the postponement comes late in the day. 

A Premier League statement read: "Manchester City’s fixture at Everton, due to be played at 8 pm this evening, has been postponed following a Premier League Board meeting."

Manchester City lodged a request with the Premier League today to rearrange the game following an increase in positive COVID-19 test results received by the club this morning, on top of the cases reported on Christmas Day.

This rise has created uncertainty and the Premier League Board received medical advice that the match should be postponed. The Board agreed to rearrange the game as a precaution, and further testing will now take place tomorrow.

The decision has been taken with the health of players and staff the priority.

The Premier League continues to have full confidence in its protocols and rules and the way in which all clubs are implementing them.

The League wishes those with COVID-19 a safe and speedy recovery and will rearrange the postponed fixture against Everton in due course.

It was a highly anticipated encounter between City, rising up the table, and Everton, who have maintained a strong start to the season to sit in the second spot behind Liverpool. 

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