Saturday's Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool has been postponed just under four hours before kick-off due to the severe weather brought by Storm Darragh. The match was due to be the final Premier League meeting at Goodison Park before Everton move to their new 52,888-seater stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock in the summer.
An Everton statement confirmed the decision following a Safety Advisory Group meeting attended by officials from both clubs, Merseyside Police and Liverpool City Council. The club cited strong wind gusts and an amber severe wind warning in place until 6am on Sunday as the reason for the postponement on safety grounds. Tickets purchased for the original fixture will remain valid for the rearranged date.
The disruption extended across the country, with scores of sporting events called off as Storm Darragh brought extreme winds and rain. Championship matches involving Plymouth, Oxford, Cardiff and Watford were cancelled on Friday, along with all domestic football and rugby fixtures in Wales, including Newport's League Two clash with Carlisle. Bristol Rovers' League One game against Bolton was also postponed, as were Crawley vs Stevenage and Blackpool vs Rotherham, with Barrow vs MK Dons and Notts County vs Colchester in League Two also falling foul of the weather.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Manchester United confirmed their teatime fixture against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford would go ahead as planned, while Brentford vs Newcastle, Crystal Palace vs Manchester City and Aston Villa vs Southampton were all scheduled to proceed. Horse racing meetings at Aintree, Chepstow and Wolverhampton were cancelled, along with the women's Premiership rugby match between Bristol Bears and Exeter Chiefs.
