Liverpool’s Premier League clash against Brighton on Sunday could be at risk due to the possible impact of Storm Boelo.
The UK has already experienced severe weather in recent days, with Storm Austen leaving more than 12,000 homes without electricity. More powerful winds could hit Merseyside over the weekend.
The Met Office has issued a weather warning ahead of Storm Boelo, which is expected to bring a very windy and wet weekend, potentially causing disruption across parts of northern England.
A yellow weather warning remains in place for Liverpool until 9pm on Sunday. The Met Office has warned that road and public transport services could be disrupted by fallen debris, while cancellations and power cuts are also possible.
Wind gusts of 55–65 mph are considered likely, while some coastal and exposed areas could experience speeds of 70–80 mph or even higher.
Whatever decision the authorities make, public safety must remain the top priority. If that means postponing the match, then so be it, despite the inconvenience it would cause both teams and the supporters planning to attend.
A final decision should be made early enough to give travelling Brighton fans sufficient notice, particularly those facing a 10-hour round trip. It would be extremely disappointing for supporters to begin their journey to Merseyside on Sunday morning only to discover that the match has been called off.
Liverpool supporters will remember the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park two years ago, which was postponed just hours before kick-off because of Storm Darragh. The Reds will be hoping that Sunday’s encounter can go ahead as scheduled.
Andoni Iraola’s team already faces a busy fixture schedule, but their workload could become even heavier later in the season if they progress deep into multiple knockout competitions and have to find a new date for Brighton’s visit to Anfield.
Hopefully, the match will take place as planned. However, the impact of Storm Boelo is beyond anyone’s control, and public safety must take precedence over everything else.
