MX23RW : Sunday, June 2 11:52:52| >> :120:12550:12550:

Coronavirus latest Merseyside derby venue and EFL plans to be decided this week

Coronavirus latest Merseyside derby venue and EFL plans to be decided this week
© Reuters
The Merseyside derby's venue is still to be decided while the EFL is preparing to vote on Tuesday.

A decision on whether the Merseyside derby on June 21 can be safely played at Goodison Park will not be taken until Wednesday while the EFL gets ready for a crunch vote.

The PA news agency understands members of Liverpool City Council's safety advisory group, who had originally been due to meet on Monday, need more time to read the relevant documents after not receiving them until Friday.

The derby was one of only two games in the initial rounds of Premier League fixtures published on Friday to have 'venue TBC' listed, with all other games having been given the go-ahead to be played at the usual home venue.

Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur – Premier League – Anfield
Liverpool could win the title at Goodison Park on June 21. (Peter Byrne/PA)

The safety advisory group can only make a decision on Goodison's suitability to host the fixture. If it decides it is not, the clubs and the Premier League must then look at a suitable neutral venue.

Everton are understood to be happy to host the fixture, where local rivals Liverpool could wrap up the title with a win if closest challengers Manchester City lose to Arsenal on June 17.

Meanwhile, English Football League clubs will vote on the framework for ending the 2019-20 season on Tuesday, with the bottom two divisions then to vote on whether to cut the campaign short amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The EFL board has proposed a framework which would keep promotion and relegation, retain the four-team play-offs and decide the final league tables on an unweighted points-per-game basis.

Two alternatives have been proposed. Barnsley's idea would see relegation scrapped in the event of a division being unable to finish, while Tranmere's involves applying a margin for error to the points-per-game system.

The Sky Bet Championship and Premier League will resume behind-closed-doors and Brighton have offered season-ticket holders the chance to purchase their own cut-out to sit at the Amex for games.

They cost £20 and will be positioned in the upper tier of the East Stand.

The Super League will also move a step closer to returning this week with the first meeting of a Restart Group which will look at ways to stage games behind closed doors.

ID:401837: cacheID:401837:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5300:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo reacts on February 2, 2020
Read Next:
Ronaldo works out and Warner's TikTok showreel - Monday's sporting social
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38287396346291
2Arsenal38285591296289
3Liverpool382410486414582
4Aston Villa382081076611568
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs382061274611366
6Chelsea381891177631463
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381861485622360
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd38186145758-160
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham381410146074-1452
10Crystal Palace381310155758-149
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton381212145562-748
12Bournemouth38139165467-1348
13Fulham38138175561-647
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38137185065-1546
15Everton38139164051-1140
16Brentford38109195665-939
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3899204967-1832
RLuton TownLuton3868245285-3326
RBurnley3859244178-3724
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd38372835104-6916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!