Antonio Conte: 'Tottenham Hotspur ready for Liverpool game to go ahead'

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has insisted that his side are "ready" to face Liverpool on Sunday, despite the increasing number of postponements due to coronavirus.

Spurs have seen their last three games called off due to the virus, with the first two down to an outbreak in their own squad before the midweek meeting with Leicester City was cancelled due to infections amongst the Foxes' playing staff.

In total, nine Premier League games have now been postponed, including half of the fixtures planned for this weekend, but Conte is happy to see Sunday's showdown at Anfield go ahead.

"My thoughts are we are ready to follow the rules and I think it's the most important thing. If there are the rules, then for sure the rules have to be the same for all the teams," Conte told reporters.

"For this reason, we are ready to follow the rules and we are ready to play, and we're ready to do what the others tell us to do. We are ready to follow what the Premier League decide.

"The situation with Rennes, was a big problem for us. We had nine players and seven staff with COVID and no-one wants to take a decision. If there are rules we have to respect them. The situation is not simple. Every game we are prepared to play. It was the same against Leicester but they decided to postpone."

Conte also revealed that he would not force any of his players or staff to be vaccinated against their will.

"It is not easy to answer this question. Every person and player has to take their own decision. I took my decision. My family took their decision. I'd like that other people do the same but every single person needs to take the best decision for himself," the Italian added.

"But I can't force anyone, it is not right. It is very difficult to go into the head of another person. I think every single person, every single player or member of staff at Tottenham or other clubs, has to take the decision for themselves."

Tottenham's home game against Liverpool will be their first outing for two weeks.