Merseyside derby to be played at Goodison Park as Liverpool get permission to play at Anfield

Everton and Liverpool granted permission by the city’s Safety Advisory Group to stage their remaining Premier League games at their own stadiums

The Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool on Sunday 21 June will be played at Goodison Park after the city’s Safety Advisory Group gave permission for the fixture to take place as scheduled, with Liverpool also given the green light to stage all remaining home Premier League games at Anfield.

Two fixtures involving Liverpool were flagged as candidates to take place at neutral grounds due to fears that supporters will congregate outside the closed stadiums and breach social distancing guidelines, with the away trip to Manchester City on Thursday 2 July also yet to be confirmed.

But at a meeting of the council’s Safety Advisory Group on Wednesday, both Liverpool and Everton were granted permission to play their remaining home games at Anfield and Goodison Park respectively after reassurance was given that the conditions outside the grounds can be managed.

The derby received support from both Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson and the Merseyside Police, with authorities happy for the game to take place at Goodison Park next Sunday at 7pm.

The decision will have to be ratified by the Premier League, which is expected to be a formality.

It was also decided that Liverpool’s remaining home Premier League games will be played at Anfield, meaning they could wrap up the title at their own stadium when they take on Crystal Palace on Wednesday 24 June, if they haven’t already done so.

Wendy Simon, chair of the Safety Advisory Group: “A lot of factors have been taken into consideration, especially the safety of the players, match officials and staff in attendance at both stadia. We are confident the measures in place will allow the matches to be held behind closed doors without any detrimental impact to all concerned and recommend to the city council that the safety certificates for both grounds be amended to allow this to happen."

Councillor Simon, who is also the deputy mayor of Liverpool, also urged fans to follow the government’s social media guidelines surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, with Jurgen Klopp also calling on supporters not to travel to Anfield when games are taking place.

“I'm sure fans of both teams will welcome this recommendation and, subject to ratification, we look forward to watching the first of these matches - the Merseyside derby on 21 June - which will be broadcast live on free-to-air TV for the first time since the Premier League began,” she added.

“We would also advise that everyone, wherever they may be watching these fixtures, to strongly adhere to the guidance on social distancing around the current Covid-19 pandemic and for not only these matches but the wider relaxation measures anticipated by the city.”

Liverpool will be allowed to finish the season at Anfield (AFP ) (AFP)

With the Premier League due to resume on 17 June, five remaining fixtures in total were earmarked for neutral venues by the UK's football policing lead, Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts of South Yorkshire Police, who said on May 29 local forces had requested to be played at neutral venues.

Merseyside Police immediately appeared to contradict DCC Roberts by saying they were happy to police matches in the city, with approval subsequently granted ahead of the season resumption. Had the fixtures not been allowed to take place in Liverpool, Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium had been considered as an alternative for next Sunday’s Merseyside derby.