Snow and freezing temperatures put Manchester and Merseyside derbies under threat as UK weather takes its toll

The Met Office has warned there will be heavy snow in Manchester and Liverpool this weekend

The Met Office reacted by upgrading its weather warning from yellow to amber (Getty)

Sunday’s Premier League derby day could be called off after the Met Office today warned that heavy snow is forecast in both Manchester and Liverpool this weekend.

Liverpool are scheduled to host Merseyside rivals Everton at 14.15 before Manchester United welcome league leaders City to Old Trafford, on a busy day of top-flight action which also sees Arsenal travel to Southampton.

But the games in the north west have been thrown into some doubt with the news that eight inches of snow is expected to fall in the region.

The Met Office has upgraded its weather warning from yellow to amber with fears that the heavy snowfall could spark safety concerns as well as travel problems.

United and City have urged their fans to arrive early for the Manchester derby, with turnstiles set to open two hours before kick-off. There will also be a substantial security operation in place, with fans urged not to bring bags. An alcohol exclusion zone will also be in force.

Forecasts show heavy snow falling from 5am Sunday morning throughout the day, giving the snow in both Liverpool and Manchester plenty of time to settle.

Earlier in the day, United manager Jose Mourinho cut a calm figure at his pre-match press conference but acknowledged external factors could decide the course of the game.

“Football is unpredictable, you can try you can try, me as a manager I can try to define a gameplan, to work in a direction but football is unpredictable,” he said.

“We don't know what can happen, there are so many things that are out of control that can totally transform the direction of the game.

“I wouldn't risk saying what game we are going to have.”