Sunday’s Liverpool v Manchester United Premier League match went ahead despite the north-west region’s adverse weather conditions.
Merseyside and the north-west had a dump of snow overnight and Liverpool city council’s safety advisory group met on Sunday morning to determine whether the game could be played. Access issues led the list of concerns. The group reconvened at 12pm GMT in the hope weather conditions would ease and the fixture kicked off as scheduled at 4.30pm, with Manchester United holding Liverpool to a 2-2 draw.
“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 derby 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, Newport and Morecambe, 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, went ahead as planned. Sporting fixtures across the UK have been affected. Only Chepstow went ahead of any horse racing meetings, only to be then abandoned after the second race.
Racing was earlier 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.”
