Safety concerns over severe weather caused by Storm Darragh have led to the postponement of the highly anticipated Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool.
Originally scheduled to take off on Saturday, December 7, at 12:30 GMT, the derby has been postponed with no date announced.
Everton website revealed this in a statement titled, “Everton v Liverpool postponed because of bad weather.”
The Merseyside derby was supposed to the opener game for game week 14 this weekend.
An emergency Safety Advisory Group meeting held at Goodison Park this morning, involving officials from both clubs, Merseyside Police, and Liverpool City Council, deemed the match unsafe due to strong wind gusts and an amber severe wind warning in effect until 6:00 GMT on Sunday.
In a joint decision, the fixture was called off to ensure the safety of fans, players, and staff, as high winds overnight also caused significant travel disruptions across Merseyside.
Everton expressed their regret over the postponement, stating, “We apologize for the inconvenience caused and thank supporters for their understanding.
“Whilst we appreciate this will be deeply disappointing for supporters, the safety of fans, staff, and players is of paramount importance.
“Information relating to a rearranged date for the fixture will be announced in due course. All tickets purchased for the original fixture will remain valid for the rearranged fixture.”
Liverpool echoed similar sentiments, adding “We appreciate this will be deeply disappointing for supporters, but the safety of fans, staff, and players is of paramount importance.
“Severe weather and high winds have also resulted in severe travel disruption in and around Merseyside.”
Storm Darragh has wreaked havoc across the region, with gale-force winds disrupting travel and causing dangerous conditions. Fans travelling to the game faced major difficulties, solidifying the decision to postpone the fixture.
For Fantasy Premier League managers, the deadline to finalise squads remains unchanged at 11:00 GMT on Saturday, despite the postponement of this fixture.
Details regarding a new date for the fixture will be announced soon. Fans are advised to retain their tickets, which will remain valid for the rescheduled match.
This postponement underlines the unpredictable impact of extreme weather on football, as safety takes precedence over all else. Rugby union and horse racing were also affected among other matches.
Merseyside Police have advised against any non-essential travel in the region on Saturday, with an amber weather warning in place, Skysports reports.
It was set to be the final derby taking place at Goodison before Everton move to their new stadium.
