The fate of Aston Villa's FA Cup match with Liverpool remained uncertain on Thursday, with a decision on whether the third-round tie goes ahead as scheduled set to be announced on the day of Friday's fixture after a COVID-19 outbreak at the Birmingham club.

The game at Villa Park is at risk after the hosts said "a large number of first-team players and staff returned positive tests," with the club closing their training ground. 

England's governing Football Association said in a statement later Thursday: "The @FA and @AVFCOfficial are working closely together to try to ensure that the club's #EmiratesFACup third round tie with @LFC can go ahead as planned at Villa Park tomorrow (Friday) evening.

"Final confirmation will be made tomorrow pending the results of additional COVID-19 testing."

Villa are the fourth Premier League side to be hit by a COVID-19 outbreak, adding to growing concerns over whether English football's top-flight can complete the season on schedule.

They were forced to cancel training and close their training ground after two rounds of testing returned multiple positive cases of coronavirus among players and staff.

Britain is battling a highly infectious strain of the virus which has forced a new nationwide lockdown after cases soared to record numbers in recent days.

Despite the latest lockdown that came into force in England on Wednesday, the British government has said elite sport can continue.

"A large number of first-team players and staff returned positive tests after being routinely tested on Monday and immediately went into isolation," Villa said in a statement, adding "A second round of testing was carried out immediately and produced more positive results today."

"First team training ahead of tomorrow's FA Cup match with Liverpool was cancelled," the statement announced. "Discussions are ongoing between medical representatives of the club, the Football Association and the Premier League."

Southampton's FA Cup home match against Shrewsbury has already been postponed because there have been a number of positive cases at the League One club.

Wayne Rooney's Derby will fulfill their fixture at minnows Chorley with a youth team after nine positive tests among first-team players and staff.