Supporters of Everton have been reacting to news on the Toffees’ clash with Liverpool which was scheduled to take place at Goodison Park.
Everton’s home tie of the Merseyside derby was due to take place on 16th March (per BBC), however, was postponed after football was suspended due to the current viral outbreak (per BBC).
However, following the announcement that Premier League football is to return from 17th June (per Everton), it has been revealed that the Merseyside derby may not be at Goodison Park.
As per @RichardBuxton_, as cited by @EvertonNewsFeed, if Arsenal defeat Manchester City the Merseyside derby will be moved to a neutral venue.
This is due to the fact that Jurgen Klopp’s Reds will need only three points against the Toffees to claim the Premier League title and it has been advised that high-profile fixtures should be moved to neutral venues.
On Friday, though, the club released another statement which stated the Premier League’s ‘ambition’ to complete all of the remaining fixtures home and away ‘where possible’ (per Everton).
However, after the news on the Merseyside derby was relayed to Everton supporters (via @EvertonNewsFeed), the Goodison Park faithful aired their frustration.
?If Manchester City lose to Arsenal the Merseyside Derby will need to be moved away from Goodison as high profile fixtures have been advised by police to move to a neutral venue
(Source – @RichardBuxton_ ) pic.twitter.com/PYznYPqqma
— ??? ?????? ????? (@EvertonNewsFeed) May 28, 2020
If true then farcical and makes a mockery of the game and integrity of the league, the game should be postponed until after they win the league then played at Goodison if safety is an issue. #COYB
— Stephen (@Stephenah62) May 28, 2020
In the Premier League, the Toffees lost the away tie of the Merseyside derby 5-2 at Anfield back in early December (per BBC). However, fans continued airing their fury over the news on the reverse fixture.
@JayGulbins @Oliver_Cash95 wow
— Andy Kelly l 4 l (@AndyKellyy04) May 28, 2020
@Josh_HobsonLFC6 you wonder why it’ll be an * title ? how corrupt and illegitimate is this
— Kai (@gotheroos29) May 29, 2020
Would it make much of a difference if the game was not played at Goodison Park?No, not without the crowd
Yes, it would make a huge difference
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The Reds currently sit 25 points clear of Manchester City and have nine league matches of the season left to play, although City do have a game in hand (per BBC).
Should Pep Guardiola’s outfit lose their first game back against Arsenal and the Reds win against the Toffees, though, the title will be heading to the red half of Merseyside (per BBC).
This is a mistake in the long term.
— Blue nose (@gwladystreet80) May 28, 2020
That’s got to be a joke surely
— Richard Saunders (@richjsaunders28) May 28, 2020
So a neutral venue then, corrupt
— Ian Gallagher (@caserdia) May 28, 2020
As can be seen in these responses from Everton fans, they were furious with the news that their home tie of the Merseyside derby could be played away from Goodison Park.