Goodison Park will host its final Merseyside derby on February 11, according to reports. Everton’s last home match against Liverpool before they move into their new Bramley-Moore Dock home was postponed last weekend due to storm Darragh.
The fixture has been pencilled in for February 11, as Premier League rules state that postponed fixtures must be rearranged for the next available midweek slot. However, depending on Liverpool‘s performance in the Carabao Cup next week, the derby could still be moved to an earlier date.
Liverpool‘s success in cup competitions has limited the options available to the Premier League. The new date, first reported by the Mirror, falls on the Champions League play-off week. The Reds currently top the league phase of the European competition with an unblemished record from six matches. They seem extremely unlikely to have to go through additional qualifying for the knockout stage.
The Premier League requires permission from UEFA to stage a top-flight match but that will reportedly be a formality. There is the added difficulty that TNT Sports holds the rights to broadcast both the Merseyside derby and the Champions League play-offs. However, it is reported that the broadcaster have given their blessing for the game to take place that week.
If Liverpool lose their Carabao Cup quarter-final against Premier League basement side Southampton next week, two free weeks would become available in January when the semi-final stage is due to take place. A surprise defeat against the Saints would allow the Merseyside derby to occur in mid-January.
February 11 falls at a far less strenuous stage of Liverpool‘s fixture calendar. They currently have no fixtures scheduled from their visit to Bournemouth on February 1 to their next league match against Wolves on February 16. However, success against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup would see their fourth-round tie take place on the weekend of February 8-9.
Liverpool have enjoyed a remarkable start to the Premier League season and look set to head into 2025 at the top of the division. Eleven wins and only one defeat in 14 games has handed Arne Slot an almost perfect start to life at Anfield.
The Reds are four points ahead of Chelsea but their postponed match against Everton means they have a game in hand. Slot’s side will therefore be extra keen to win the Merseyside derby when it eventually takes place.
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