New Delhi: Fans in Merseyside woke up on Sunday morning to a winter wonderland as heavy overnight snowfall blanketed the region, heightening fears of a potential postponement of the highly anticipated Premier League clash between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield. The Met Office had issued an amber weather warning for Merseyside on Friday, predicting “snow and freezing rain will likely lead to disruption to transport and some other services.”
These warnings have materialized, with up to 40 centimetres of snow forecasted in some parts of the UK. The adverse weather has put the 16:30 GMT kick-off in serious jeopardy, as fan safety and logistical challenges come into sharp focus. However, Liverpool City Council’s Safety Advisory Group held a safety meeting a few hours ago in which it was decided the match would go ahead as planned for the time being.
Fears are growing over a possible postponement of the Liverpool v Manchester United match tomorrow.
The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for Merseyside (lasting until 23:59 on Sunday) amid the threat of “snow and freezing rain”. 🌨️🥶 #LFC
🔴: @standardsport pic.twitter.com/J45F3O1YxI
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) January 4, 2025
Ensuring the safety of supporters is paramount, especially given the challenges posed by icy roads, public transport disruptions, and the cold snap gripping the region. The safety council will hold another meeting at midday in the United Kingdom to take a final call on the matter. Heavy snow and freezing rain have created adverse travel conditions for fans, especially for those relying on public transport.
While the snow is expected to cease before the scheduled kick-off time, these travel challenges have cast doubt over the feasibility of hosting the game as planned. Fan safety is the ultimate concern holding up the decision over the match as local authorities and the Premier League are monitoring the situation closely. While fans outside of the area would be disappointed if the game is postponed, welfare of the travelling fans is of utmost importance.
Another Liverpool game to be postponed?
For Liverpool and Manchester United fans, the uncertainty surrounding the game is frustrating but not unexpected. Many have expressed concerns over the potential dangers posed by icy conditions, particularly for those traveling long distances. Despite the adverse conditions, there remains hope that the match will go ahead, as the snow is forecast to clear before the afternoon.
Adding to the concern is the recent history of weather-related postponements on Merseyside. Just last month, the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park was called off due to Storm Darragh, which also prompted an amber severe weather warning. On that occasion, the decision to postpone was made just three hours before the scheduled 12:30 PM GMT kick-off, leaving fans and teams scrambling for alternatives.
A safety meeting was held this morning to assess the weather and travel conditions for today’s fixture against Manchester United at Anfield.
At this stage the match is planned to go ahead as normal and every effort is being made to get the game on.
A further safety meeting…
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 5, 2025
As of now, no official announcement has been made regarding the status of the match. However, given the severity of the disruptions and the logistical challenges posed by the snowfall, a decision could come closer to kick-off. Whether or not the match takes place, the snowy conditions have already left their mark on what was expected to be one of the biggest fixtures of the Premier League season.
For now, fans wait anxiously, hoping for the green light while bracing for the possibility of another weather-enforced postponement on Merseyside. Liverpool already have a game in hand over the chasing pack and if this game is postponed as well, they will have two games in hand, making it easier for them to extend their advantage. Manchester United would also be content if the game is postponed as they would get more time to prepare for this challenging encounter.
Manchester United’s game away to Liverpool, which is slated for later tonight, faces the threat of postponement following adverse weather in Merseyside, with heavy snowfall occurring throughout the day. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
