The highly anticipated Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool, scheduled for December 7th, 2024, at Goodison Park, has been officially postponed due to severe weather conditions brought on by Storm Darragh.
This decision was made following a safety advisory meeting involving club officials, Merseyside Police, and representatives from Liverpool City Council. The postponement comes amid an amber weather warning issued for Merseyside, with strong winds and adverse conditions causing massive disruption across the region.
"Following a Safety Advisory Group meeting at Goodison Park, attended by officials from both clubs, as well as representatives from Merseyside Police and Liverpool City Council this morning, it was decided that, due to the risk to safety in the local area due to strong wind gusts, and an amber severe wind warning that remains in place until 6am on Sunday, today’s fixture should be postponed on safety grounds," read a joint statement from the clubs.
Storm Darragh has wreaked havoc across much of the United Kingdom, prompting the Met Office to issue a red warning for severe winds, particularly affecting Wales and western parts of England. Gusts were expected to reach up to 70 miles per hour, leading to travel disruptions and potential hazards. In response, Liverpool FC had initially urged fans to allow additional travel time to Goodison Park, where the match was set for a 12:30 pm kick-off. However, worsening conditions necessitated the postponement to ensure the safety of fans, staff, and players.
"This is due to severe weather and high winds, which have also resulted in severe travel disruption in and around Merseyside," stated Liverpool FC. Everton echoed these sentiments, apologizing for the inconvenience caused and emphasizing that "the safety of fans, staff, and players is of paramount importance."
The postponement poses logistical challenges in an already packed football calendar. Should Liverpool progress to the Carabao Cup semi-finals and maintain their Champions League campaign, the earliest potential dates for the rescheduled match appear to be in mid-February.
Options include midweeks on February 10/11 or 18/19, coinciding with Champions League play-off rounds. The latter date would come just days before Liverpool’s crucial Premier League clash with Manchester City, complicating preparations for Arne Slot’s side.
This delay could disrupt Liverpool’s momentum under manager Arne Slot, whose team has been performing exceptionally well, sitting at the top of the Premier League table after winning 11 of their opening 14 matches. They currently lead second-place Chelsea and third-place Arsenal by seven points. Meanwhile, Everton, managed by Sean Dyche, are positioned 15th in the league, five points clear of the relegation zone.
The postponed fixture was set to be the final Premier League Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, as Everton prepares to move to their new Bradley-Moore Dock stadium next season. This adds a layer of disappointment for fans eager to witness this historic encounter at the iconic venue.
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