The Merseyside derby, scheduled to kick off at Goodison Park at 12.30pm on Saturday, has been postponed due to Darragh’s storm surge.
Winds of up to 70mph and severe weather conditions resulted in travel disruption in and around Merseyside and presented a health risk. The consultation to postpone the game between Verton and Liverpool lifted at 8.30am on Saturdays.
A statement confirmed by the two clubs was released: “Following a safety advisory group meeting at Goodison Park, with 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 windy storms, and Due to a strong wind warning that remains in place until 6pm on Sunday, today’s fixture has to be postponed for safety reasons.
Verton’s statement added: “We apologize for the inconvenience caused and thank our supporters for their understanding. As we understand this, it will be deep for supporters, the safety of fans, staff and players is of the utmost importance. Information relating to the scheduled date for the fixture will be announced in due course. All tickets purchased for the original fixture will remain valid for the scheduled fixture. “
Liverpool also stated that there was nothing else to do but to postpone the 245th edition of the derby, and that was due to the fact that the last league derby was played at Goodison Park. “We recognize that this will be difficult for the supporters, but the safety of the fans, staff and players is of the utmost importance,” the club declared.
Verton donated food for today’s Derby to several local charities. Some have been given Fans Supporting Foodbankswho had been donating outside Goodison before the game. The rest will be given to Verton In Commons and will be used through their programs in the coming days.
In League One, Bristol Rovers v Bolton, Crawley v Stevenage and Blackpool v Rotherham games have also been called, with most postponements possible. Saturday’s league games between Cardiff and Watford and Plymouth v Oxford on Friday have been called off, while the League’s two meetings between Newport and Carlisle follow suit after the Welsh Evangelical Association called off all games in their jurisdiction amid a red weather warning. MK Dons travel to Barrow and Notts County to take on Colechester at home were also hit by nasty weather.
Saturday afternoon’s race meetings at Aintree and Chepstow were called off due to strong winds, but the Sandon meeting was still ahead after a morning inspection. Bristol Bears’ women’s game against Exeter Chiefs at Aston Gate has also been postponed following a pitch inspection.