Merseyside Derby Expected to Be Unaffected By New Lockdown Restrictions

Amid rising COVID-19 cases, the city of Liverpool has been placed by the English government in Tier Three lockdown as of Monday. This is the highest category of the newly deployed tier system, and will mean stricter guidelines for how citizens’ day to day lives.

The Liverpool City region is the only area, so far, placed into the highest tier. Just looking at Liverpool FC’s rate of transmission should make it easy to see how widespread the problem is.

However, fans concerned that this might affect the Merseyside derby, set to take place this Saturday, will be happy to know that it seems the game will continue as scheduled. Cool, cool, cool.

The Daily Mail quotes Everton head of communications, Scott McLeod, saying, “Given the intensive testing program, the training bubbles and the extensive protocols we have in place - both at the training ground and on matchdays - at this stage we are not anticipating any impact on Saturday’s game from any increase in local restrictions that may be implemented.”

While it will be good for the people in lockdown to have something to look forward to, and while I’m never one to turn down a chance to watch Liverpool beat Everton, this seems ill-advised.

The Merseyside derby is a local rivalry that will likely attract many fans to gather outside of Goodison Park. The pubs will be closed and indoor social gatherings will be against the rules, but outdoor gathering will still be allowed.

But hopefully that doesn’t happen. Hopefully the locals will stay safely inside their own homes and the match will go off without a hitch.