Soccer

Liverpool v Manchester United to go ahead as planned despite heavy snow

Amber alert in Liverpool and Manchester for Sunday

A member of staff cleans the pavement from the snow as supporters arrive ahead of the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield in Liverpool. Photograph: Darren Staples/Getty
A member of staff cleans the pavement from the snow as supporters arrive ahead of the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield in Liverpool. Photograph: Darren Staples/Getty
John Brewin
Sun Jan 05 2025 - 12:26

Sunday’s Liverpool v Manchester United Premier League match will go ahead despite the northwest region’s adverse weather conditions.

Merseyside and the northwest had a dump of snow overnight and Liverpool city council’s safety advisory group met on Sunday morning to determine whether the Premier League match could be played. Access issues led the list of concerns. The group reconvened at 12pm in the hope weather conditions would ease and the fixture will now kick off as scheduled at 4.30pm.

“Today’s fixture against Manchester United will go ahead as planned,” read a Liverpool club statement on X. “Two safety meetings were held earlier to assess the weather and travel conditions. We thank everyone involved in helping us to get this game on today. If you’re travelling to Anfield then please take extra care. We look forward to seeing you there.”

An amber alert for snow and ice had been issued for Liverpool and Manchester by the Met Office until Sunday night. Last month the Merseyside debut between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park was postponed on safety grounds. On that occasion high winds from Storm Darragh resulted in severe travel disruption in and around the city.

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The League Two fixtures between Chesterfield and Gillingham and Fleetwood and AFC Wimbledon were postponed on Sunday morning, as was the Women’s FA Cup tie between Nottingham Forest and Burnley. With London far less affected, Fulham v Ipswich, the Premier League’s early fixture, will go ahead. Sporting fixtures across the UK have been affected, with only Chepstow going ahead for any horse racing meetings.

Racing was called off at Plumpton after the Sussex course had earlier provided a positive bulletin following an 8.30am inspection. “Racing abandoned due to worsening weather conditions,” Plumpton Racecourse posted on their X account 15 minutes before the gates were due to open at 10.35am. “We are incredibly sorry for the inconvenience caused.” – Guardian