Liverpool’s match against Manchester United hangs in the balance after heavy snow fell overnight, with a decision on whether to be called off at midday.
The Met Office has issued an orange weather warning for Liverpool and Manchester, the same level issued ahead of the canceled Merseyside derby in December.
Liverpool City Council’s Safety Advisory Group held a meeting this morning and will decide whether or not to call off the match at 4.30pm later today.
A ground inspection was reportedly scheduled for around 9 a.m.
Amber warnings, although not as severe as red warnings, indicate potential danger to life and significant travel disruption.
Pictures circulating on social media show a layer of snow covering the ground in the streets around Anfield, with one fan claiming it looks “like Siberia”.
The Liverpool-Manchester United match at Anfield may be canceled due to snow, and a final decision will be made at 11.45am.
The streets around Anfield were photographed covered in a layer of snow before the clash
Liverpool City Council’s Safety Advisory Group is holding a meeting and will decide whether the match should be cancelled
“A safety meeting was held this morning to assess the weather and travel conditions for today’s match against Manchester United at Anfield,” Liverpool Football Club wrote on X at 9.31am.
“At this stage, the match is scheduled to proceed as normal and every effort is being made to continue the match. A further safety meeting will be held again at midday to assess the latest conditions. We will update supporters as soon as possible. Please take extra care, Reds.”
The Meteorological Office’s forecast for the northwest for today was titled “Heavy snow leading to some disturbance.”
It read: “Snow is falling in the north and across the Pennines, which may be heavy in some places during the morning and early afternoon. Rain will turn to rain in southern areas with the possibility of freezing rain falling on some. The snow will ease this evening.” Maximum temperature 2°C.
Tags Bar, a Liverpool FC-themed outlet next to the stadium, wrote on Instagram: “There’s about 2 inches of snow in places. There will be a little rain, but it’s very cold so it probably won’t clear the snow. My money is on a postponement. Meeting at 9 I’ve been told.
Liverpool City Councilors have already made several trips over the past 24 hours in a bid to boost road safety for traveling fans.
On Sunday morning, the runway at Liverpool John Lennon Airport was temporarily closed due to conditions. Roads in the northwest were also closed due to snow and collisions.
Meanwhile, almost 80 miles away, Chesterfield’s match with Gillingham at SMH Group Stadium was called off, following an early morning pitch inspection.
An inspection of the stadium is being carried out after heavy snowfall overnight left Liverpool looking like ‘Siberia’.
Some Manchester United fans are begging for the match to be abandoned on social media due to their poor form, leaving the odds heavily stacked against them.
“Safety first.” This is my motto. Better safe than sorry. That’s another thing. If there is the slightest concern about the safety of anyone involved – which there clearly is – it is best to postpone. Or even cancel it completely. Share the points. Everyone is happy. Most importantly, everyone is safe, wrote one prominent United fan on the Bluesky website.
“Honestly, it feels like Siberia out there this morning. People can lose limbs to frostbite. Stop this madness now.”
“Null and void league?” another joked.
“Worst snow we’ve ever seen, treacherous conditions out there, cancel it,” fan channel The United Stand on X wrote.
In December, Liverpool’s match with Everton was called off just four hours before kick-off due to chaos caused by Storm Darragh.
Storm Darragh wreaked havoc across the country with winds of up to 92 mph causing travel chaos, damage and leaving thousands without power.
Liverpool said the late postponement was due to “extreme weather and high winds, which also resulted in severe disruption to travel in and around Merseyside”.
The last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park was canceled due to Storm Darragh in December
Electric scooters littered the pavement outside Goodison Park, where Liverpool were due to play Everton.
It is still unclear when the postponed Merseyside derby, the last at Goodison Park, will take place.
Arne Sloat’s side have a game in hand as a result of this postponement, but will be keen to avoid another as they don’t want games to pile up in 2025.
Liverpool is five points behind Arsenal at the top of the English Premier League, and has two matches in hand.
Meanwhile, Manchester United are 14th in the table and have lost five of their last six league matches.
More to follow.