To add to the sense of anxiety within squads, Covid outbreaks at Leeds United and Watford caused two further postponements. The league apologised to fans for fresh Boxing Day disruption, which also caused chaos for BT Sport as the postponed fixtures were the only two being played in the broadcaster’s 12.30pm slot. BT had been due to broadcast from Anfield, but will now show Tottenham against Crystal Palace, which remains at 3pm.

The fixtures became the 11th and 12th top-flight matches postponed as a consequence of the virus in recent weeks, prompting Guardiola to raise the possibility of radical action.

Suggesting a strike may be the only way to get the authorities to listen, he told reporters: “Should the players and the managers be all together and make a strike, or something, because just through words it’s not going to be solved?”

However, when asked how likely industrial action was, he added: “No, I don’t think so because we want to play. We want to continue – to make the people happy going to the stadium on the 26th, 27th, 29th, 31st and 1st, and play games, because we love to do that.”

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has been one of the leading voices in describing the toll being placed on teams as the Covid surge depletes squads. He has said earlier this week he was “concerned” that “nobody really takes player welfare seriously”.

Despite all the criticism, the matches on December 28 and 29 remain likely to go ahead as planned. Sources at the managers’ meeting on Thursday said talks failed to lead to any breakthroughs, with only a minority of coaches saying the games must be cancelled.