Goodison is given go ahead to stage Merseyside derby

THE Merseyside derby will be played at Goodison Park on June 21 after Liverpool City Council gave the go-ahead for Everton and Liverpool to complete their remaining fixtures at home.

Everton are due to host Liverpool when both clubs resume their campaigns in 10 days’ time, and the match could see the Reds claim the Premier League title if Manchester City lose to Arsenal next Wednesday.

That had led to concerns fans could congregate around the ground in breach of restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but following meetings involving the clubs, health authorities, the police and the council, the match has been given the green light.

A statement from the Deputy Mayor of Liverpool, councillor Wendy Simon, said: “We are satisfied that the considerable evidence and guidance provided by the government, Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs, public health colleagues and Merseyside Police will ensure that the outstanding fixtures for the 2019-20 Premier League season can be safely and securely played at both Goodison Park and Anfield.

“A lot of factors have been taken into consideration by the (Ground Safety Advisory Group), especially the safety of the players, match officials and staff in attendance at both stadia.

“We are confident the measures in place will allow the matches to be held behind closed doors without any detrimental impact to all concerned and recommend to the city council that the safety certificates for both grounds be amended to allow this to happen.”

The match between Everton and Liverpool is due to be the first Merseyside derby to be broadcast on free-to-air television since the Premier League was launched. The match was one of two listed as ‘venue TBC’ when the Premier League published its initial fixture list for the remaining 2019-20 matches last Friday. It had been one of five games which the UK’S football policing lead, Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts of South Yorkshire Police, said on May 29 local forces had requested to be played at neutral venues.

Merseyside Police immediately appeared to contradict DCC Roberts by saying they were happy to police matches in the city. As recently as May 1, Premier League clubs were told that all the remaining matches would need to be played at eight to 10 approved neutral venues.

There was encouraging news ahead of a shareholders’ meeting today with the Premier League announcing that only one individual had tested positive for Covid-19 from a total of 1,213 players and staff.

Executives from the 20 topflight clubs will gather for the meeting where the final issues will be dealt with ahead of the scheduled restart on June 17.

Clubs will vote on the stage three ‘return-to-play’ and match day operations protocols which were presented to players and coaching staff on Tuesday.

It will then be a case of making amendments to Premier League regulations to reflect the fact that the season will be completed behind closed doors.

The Premier League confirmed that one person recorded a positive result for coronavirus in the latest round of testing.

In total, 1,213 players and staff were tested on Monday and Tuesday in what was the seventh round of tests since players returned to training.

No specific details regarding the club or the individual have yet been provided.

There have now been just 14 positive tests out of the 4,787 conducted since the league announced the launch of Project Restart, allaying fears that a return to contract training could cause a spike in infections.

Clubs have begun participating in friendlies in a bid to regain fitness ahead of the restart, however Manchester United were forced to cancel their fixture against Stoke City on Tuesday after it was revealed that Potters manager Michael O’neill

— the former Northern Ireland boss — had tested positive for Covid-19. The English Football League has confirmeed a total of eight positives, with 1,192 players and staff tested. • SHEFFIELD United skipper Billy Sharp and vice-captain Oliver Norwood have signed new contracts with the club.

Striker Sharp, who has scored 93 goals in 197 appearances during his third spell at the club, has agreed a two-year deal to keep him at Bramall Lane until the summer of 2022.

Former Northern Ireland midfielder Norwood, meanwhile, has put pen to paper on a three-year contract, running until the end of the 2022-23 campaign.