The Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool, scheduled for Saturday, has been officially postponed due to the severe weather conditions caused by Storm Darragh. The storm brought hazardous winds and heavy rain to the west coast of England, leading Everton to announce the cancellation earlier in the day, just before the match was set to kick off at 12:30 p.m. U.K. time.
According to the Met Office, regions in Wales witnessed wind gusts exceeding 90 mph, and they continued to warn about dangerous weather throughout the day. The Met Office stated, “Storm Darragh continues to bring strong and potentially damaging winds this afternoon,” while heavy rainfall was predicted to persist.
While the Merseyside clash was postponed, four other Premier League matches were set to proceed as planned. Manchester United’s home game against Nottingham Forest is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Old Trafford, located roughly 30 miles east of Liverpool. The club advised fans that they would remain in contact with authorities and update supporters should circumstances change.
Aston Villa’s match against Southampton, commencing at 3 p.m., also made a note urging fans to allow extra time for travel due to adverse weather. Likewise, Brentford’s game against Newcastle and Crystal Palace’s home fixture against Manchester City were also affirmed to be going ahead, with both teams reminding fans to take care while traveling.
As for Storm Darragh, the chief meteorologist from the Met Office, Steve Willington, indicated that conditions were expected to improve gradually throughout the day as the storm moved across the UK, suggesting that the most intense winds would diminish.
Statements from both Everton and Liverpool regarding the postponement echoed sentiments for safety. They noted that a Safety Advisory Group meeting had taken place, attended by officials from both clubs, Merseyside Police, and Liverpool City Council, leading to the decision to cancel the match due to concerns about strong wind gusts and an amber severe wind warning that remained in effect.
The Premier League confirmed that details regarding the rescheduling of the match will be announced in the future.
In light of this situation, while the postponement of the storied rivalry is disappointing for fans, prioritizing safety during extreme weather conditions demonstrates a commitment to the well-being of everyone involved. As Storm Darragh begins to subside, there is hope that normalcy will soon return, allowing for exciting football matches to resume.