Everton v Liverpool Merseyside derby postponed due to Storm Darragh

The Merseyside derby, set to begin at Goodison Park at 12:30 PM on Saturday, has been called off due to the effects of Storm Darragh.

Strong winds reaching speeds of 70mph, along with harsh weather, have caused travel issues in and near Merseyside, creating safety concerns. As a result, officials decided to delay the match between Everton and Liverpool, making the announcement at 8:30 am on Saturday.

A joint announcement from the two clubs stated: "After a meeting of the safety advisory group at Goodison Park, which included officials from both teams along with representatives from Merseyside police and Liverpool city council this morning, it was concluded that the match should be postponed due to safety concerns related to high wind gusts. An amber severe wind warning is still in effect until 6am on Sunday."

Everton's announcement included: "We regret any trouble this may have caused and appreciate the patience of our fans. We understand that this news will be very disappointing, but the safety of our supporters, staff, and players is our top priority. Details about a new date for the match will be shared soon. All tickets bought for the initial match will still be accepted for the rescheduled game."

Liverpool emphasized that there was no choice but to delay the 245th derby, which was intended to be the last league match held at Goodison Park. The club acknowledged that this decision would be very disappointing for fans, but insisted that ensuring the safety of all supporters, staff, and players is their top priority.

The delay might result in a packed schedule for Arne Slot’s team, who are currently leading the Premier League. If Liverpool secures a victory in their Carabao Cup quarter-final against Southampton on December 18, they will face a match every week during the midweek until mid-February, aside from the New Year period.

Everton has contributed food for today's derby to several local charities. A portion of it has been provided to Fans Supporting Foodbanks, who were set to gather donations outside Goodison prior to the match. The remainder will be distributed to Everton In the Community and will be utilized in their various programs over the next few days.

In League One, the matches involving Bristol Rovers and Bolton, Crawley and Stevenage, and Blackpool and Rotherham have been canceled, with more delays likely. The Championship fixtures for Saturday, featuring Cardiff against Watford and Plymouth facing Oxford, were also called off on Friday. Additionally, the League Two game between Newport and Carlisle was postponed after the Football Association of Wales decided to cancel all matches in its area due to a severe weather warning. MK Dons' away game against Barrow and Notts County's home match against Colchester have also been affected by the weather conditions.

The race events scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Aintree and Chepstow have been canceled because of high winds. However, the meeting at Sandown is still taking place following a morning inspection. Additionally, the women's match between Bristol Bears and Exeter Chiefs at Ashton Gate has been postponed after checking the pitch conditions.