The Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park has been postponed due to safety concerns arising from severe weather conditions caused by Storm Darragh.
An amber weather warning for strong winds was issued for Merseyside on Saturday morning, as disruptive conditions swept across the UK.
The game was called off after a meeting between both clubs and representatives from Merseyside Police and Liverpool City Council.
“Whilst we appreciate this will be deeply disappointing for supporters, the safety of fans, staff and players is of paramount importance,” an Everton statement read.
Liverpool cited safety concerns in the local area as the reason for the decision to postpone the match.
The game was scheduled to kick off at 12:30 GMT and was set to be the final league derby at Goodison Park before Everton’s planned move to a new stadium in 2025.
Liverpool currently lead the Premier League, seven points clear of Chelsea and Arsenal, who are set to play on Sunday against Tottenham and Fulham, respectively.
Everton, managed by Sean Dyche, sit 15th in the table, five points above the relegation zone.
Following the postponement, Everton announced they had donated food initially prepared for the 40,000-strong crowd to local food banks and charitable organizations across the city. The donated items included pies and sausage rolls.
Meanwhile, millions in parts of Wales and south-west England have been advised to stay indoors to avoid the dangers posed by Storm Darragh.
Forecasters have warned of winds reaching up to 90mph in some areas, with the Met Office issuing its highest-level red warning for parts of western and southern Wales, where tens of thousands of homes are currently without power.
Are other Premier League games going ahead?
In the Premier League, all four other matches on Saturday are set to go ahead as planned.
There are three 15:00 GMT kick-offs – Aston Villa v Southampton, Brentford v Newcastle and Crystal Palace v Manchester City – while Manchester United will host Nottingham Forest at 17:30.
Full list of cancelled football matches this weekend
Premier League
Everton v Liverpool
Championship
Cardiff City v Watford
Plymouth Argyle v Oxford United
League One
Blackpool v Rotherham United
Bristol Rovers v Bolton Wanderers
Crawley v Stevenage
League Two
Barrow v Milton Keynes Dons
Newport County v Carlisle United
Notts County v Colchester United