Everton vs Sunderland postponement latest as Mayor speaks out
Everton are set to face Sunderland in FA Cup action on Saturday.
Everton’s 1-1 draw with Wolves was under threat after the Met Office issued a weather warning, which included the morning of the Hill Dickinson Stadium clash.
The potential concern was surrounding supporters getting to the ground, rather than the pitch, which would have been fine due to the under-soil heating.
Now, attention will turn to the clash with the Premier League outfit, in English football’s premier competition, and whether that will be affected.
Liverpool Mayor addresses Everton vs Sunderland concerns
Trains have been a huge problem for Everton fans, and they could be affected by snowy and icy conditions, with a potential repeat of this week’s conditions as Storm Goretti rolls in.
Steve Rotherham, Metro Mayor for the City of Liverpool, addressed concerns about the bad weather repeating itself this weekend and affecting the trains.
Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside, he said: “We’re expecting bad weather at the weekend, Everton are playing at home, so we’re expecting some bad weather and we’ve got some contingencies in place.”
The fact that those plans are in place, suggests that the clash will go ahead regardless of the conditions, rather than being postponed, if all stays well with the weather.
What is the weather forecast for Everton vs Sunderland?
At the moment, as of Thursday morning, the Met Office is predicting clear conditions for the contest, with temperatures of around 4°C.
Wind speeds are presumed to be around the five miles per hour mark, so the actual play on the pitch should not be affected too much.
While supporters may have to wrap up to keep themselves warm, the predicted conditions seem good enough for the clash to be played, provided that they do not worsen over the next few days.
Everton will hope to get through to the fourth round and continue their journey, as David Moyes attempts to bring glory to the blue half of Merseyside for the first time since 1995.
It looks as though the weather will not ruin those plans, although the Scotsman may have selection dilemmas with Jack Grealish and Michael Keane being banned after picking up red cards against the Old Gold.