The last Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park has been called off just four hours before kick-off because of chaos caused by Storm Darragh.
Everton said in a statement that the game, which had been due to start at 12:30pm, had been postponed ‘due to adverse weather conditions’.
Storm Darragh is wreaking havoc across the country with winds of up to 92mph causing travel chaos, damage and leaving thousands without power.
Liverpool said the late postponement was due to ‘severe weather and high winds, which have also resulted in severe travel disruption in and around Merseyside’.
The decision for the game not to go ahead was taken by local authorities and not the two clubs.
The clash is the last Merseyside derby to be held at Goodison Park before Everton move into their new £760million stadium at Bramley Moore Dock next season.
The last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park has been called off due to Storm Darragh
Arne Slot’s Liverpool had been due to face Everton in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off
Storm Darragh has battered large parts of Britain, bringing a ‘danger to life’ in some regions
Liverpool said: ‘Liverpool FC can confirm today’s Premier League fixture against Everton at Goodison Park, scheduled for a 12.30pm kick-off, has been postponed.
‘This is due to severe weather and high winds, which have also resulted in severe travel disruption in and around Merseyside.
‘Following a Safety Advisory Group meeting this morning at Goodison Park, attended by officials from both clubs, as well as representatives from Merseyside Police and Liverpool City Council, it was decided that due to the risk to safety in the local area, and the amber severe wind warning that remains in place until 6am on Sunday, today’s match is postponed on safety grounds.
‘We appreciate this will be deeply disappointing for supporters, but the safety of fans, staff and players is of paramount importance. Information relating to a rearranged date for the fixture, including ticketing, will be announced in due course.’
Everton added: ‘We apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank supporters for their understanding.’
The decision to call off the Merseyside derby will be especially disappointing to one supporter – 15-year-old Mackenzie, who had spent £1,000 on tickets and travel from Australia for the game.
It comes as millions of Britons have been warned to stay indoors after Storm Darragh arrived in the UK last night.
The Met Office has issued a rare ‘danger to life’ red wind warning for the early hours of Saturday, with ‘significant disruption’ expected between 3am until 11am across most of the coast of Wales and parts of south-west England.
The decision will come as a blow to Everton and Liverpool fans but was taken due to safety fears
E-scooters are strewn on the pavement outside Goodison Park, where Liverpool had been due to play Everton on Saturday
A fallen tree on Queen’s Drive in Liverpool caused by the devastation of Storm Darragh
Three million people in the red wind warning areas were issued an emergency alert on their phones – as part of the Government’s ‘risk to life’ warning system – urging them to avoid driving and to ‘stay indoors if you can’.
Train services in parts of England and Wales have been disrupted due to debris on tracks, and flight schedules face delays as airlines contend with the challenging weather. The situation has also led to the closure of outdoor venues, further adding to the weekend’s chaos.
The storm has disrupted travel across the country, with the train line to Liverpool from Crewe partially blocked because of an ‘obstruction on the track’, London Northwestern Railway said on X, formerly Twitter.
Liverpool is not among the worst affected areas – it had been placed under an amber weather warning – but the planned racing meeting at nearby Aintree was also called off due to Storm Darragh, which has battered large parts of Britain.
‘Today’s Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool has been postponed due to safety concerns caused by the adverse weather conditions,’ the Premier League said in a statement on Saturday morning.
‘The rearrangement of the fixture will be announced in due course.’
Everton’s clash with Liverpool is the fifth fixture in England’s top four leagues to be postponed because of the storm.
Two games in the Championship have also fallen victim to the storm – Cardiff’s home match against Watford and Plymouth against Oxford United.
In League One, Bristol Rovers versus Bolton has also been called off, while in League Two Newport County clash with Carlisle has been postponed.
No football matches will take place in Wales on Saturday because of safety fears caused by the storm.