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Goodison Park given green-light to host Merseyside derby

Goodison Park has been given the green light to host the Merseyside derby, in a fixture which could see Liverpool crowned as champions for the first time in three decades.

The Premier League will make its behind-closed-doors return next week but there has been uncertainty surrounding the location of several fixtures deemed as high-risk, Merseyside police and other authorities having expressed their concerns ahead of the derby fixture.

Jurgen Klopp’s league leaders would be crowned champions if they secure victory in the derby, providing that Manchester City lose to Arsenal on Wednesday June 17.

It had been suggested that the fixture could be moved to an alternative venue – with the latest reports claiming that the game could even be played in Southampton – amid fears that fans could congregate nearby or outside the stadium to potentially celebrate a long-awaited title success for the red half of the city.

Despite those fears, it has now been decided by the Ground Safety Advisory Group that the fixture will be played at Everton‘s home stadium following ‘positive discussions’ between a variety of organisations including various supporter’s groups.

“Everton’s Merseyside derby against Liverpool will take place behind closed doors at Goodison Park on Sunday 21 June, 7pm kick-off,” a statement on the Everton website reads.

“The decision to play the game at the Club’s home stadium was made today by the local Ground Safety Advisory Group following positive discussions between the Club, Liverpool City Council, Merseyside Police, The Everton Fans’ Forum, The Blue Union, Liverpool Football Club and Spirit of Shankly.”

The decision means that each of Everton’s remaining five home fixtures will be played at their own stadium. The clash with Liverpool will be broadcast free-to-air on Sky Sports and will kick-off at 7pm.

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