The long-awaited clash between Liverpool and Manchester United is on hold as freezing weather conditions wreak havoc on the Anfield pitch. Footage has surfaced showing the winter conditions ahead of this crucial Premier League match scheduled for 4.30pm on Sunday January 5.
With heavy snow and freezing rain blanketing Merseyside overnight, officials from the Safety Advisory Group met at 9am on Sunday to assess whether pitch conditions would allow the match to go ahead. However, the decision was postponed until 11:45 a.m., leaving fans in limbo.
Despite this uncertainty, Liverpool’s official statement at 9:31 a.m. stated that plans for the match are still in place. “Every effort is being made to ensure that the match takes place,” they said, adding that a further assessment would take place at noon to assess the current weather conditions.
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To add to the suspense, Sky Sports journalist Vinny O’Connor shared a video shortly after the announcement, showing the state of the pitch. “The pitch should not be a problem,” he said, although he acknowledged the persistent bad weather.
The video quickly ignited discussions among supporters, many of whom shared their opinions on social media. One fan commented: “It’s raining too, it should be ok for the match to continue,” while another replied: “Vinny, it’s forecast to rain, and the club said the match will be played as planned.” A third added: “The lawn is in good condition. I can’t believe they expect us all to go to work in this weather if it was a weekday but what they need meetings to see if people can go to a Football stadium.”
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In these comments, one supporter expressed frustration with the effectiveness of pitch heating, wondering why a bit of snow is causing so much concern, while another pointed out: “Football is played at outside. It sometimes rains outside too.”
Meanwhile, disruption has been felt across the region, with airports including Manchester, Liverpool John Lennon, Leeds Bradford and Birmingham closing their runways due to heavy snow.
Manchester United also spoke through official channels to reassure fans that preparations for the match are still underway. Their morning statement said: “Our match against Liverpool is still scheduled at this stage, despite snow and weather warnings in the North West today. Please take care if you are traveling for the match — we will keep you in touch informed of the latest developments.”
