The highly anticipated Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool, set to take place at Goodison Park on Saturday, has been postponed due to the severe weather conditions caused by Storm Darragh. Strong winds, with gusts reaching up to 70mph, have prompted concerns for the safety of supporters and players.
The match, originally scheduled for a 12.30 p.m. kick-off, is now expected to be rescheduled as a night game later in the season. This comes ahead of Everton's planned move to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
An Everton statement confirmed the decision, following a Safety Advisory Group meeting involving officials from both clubs, Merseyside Police, and Liverpool City Council. "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 6 a.m. on Sunday, today's fixture should be postponed on safety grounds," the statement read.
The club expressed regret for the inconvenience caused but emphasised that "the safety of fans, staff and players is of paramount importance." Everton also confirmed that tickets for the original fixture would remain valid for the rearranged date.
While the Merseyside derby has been called off, the remaining Premier League fixtures on Saturday are scheduled to go ahead as planned. At 3 p.m., Aston Villa will host Southampton at Villa Park, with fans urged to allow extra time for travel. Brentford will face Newcastle at the Gtech Community Stadium, and Crystal Palace will play Manchester City at Selhurst Park. Both Brentford and Palace confirmed that their matches will proceed despite the weather.
"Today's match is still scheduled to go ahead despite the bad weather," Brentford said in a statement, advising supporters to "travel safely, plan ahead, and allow extra time for your journey."
The Met Office reported that Storm Darragh's strongest winds in the west would gradually ease later in the morning, but disruptions in the affected areas are expected to persist throughout the day.
Liverpool, currently seven points clear at the top of the Premier League, will have to wait for another day to face their Merseyside rivals. However, that lead could be reduced to four points if Chelsea and Arsenal secure victories over Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.
