The big game of the Premier League weekend will not be taking place. Storm Darragh has put paid to the Merseyside Derby between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park, with fears over safety.
The two Merseyside rivals were due to meet in a Saturday lunchtime showdown at Goodison Park, but the game was postponed early on Saturday morning.
A Premier League statement read: "Following a Safety Advisory Group meeting at Goodison Park, attended by officials from both clubs, as well as representatives from Merseyside Police and Liverpool City Council this morning, it was decided that, due to the risk to safety in the local area and the amber severe wind warning that remains in place until 06:00 GMT on Sunday, today's fixture should be postponed on safety grounds."
That means the chasing pack have an opportunity to close the gap once more on leaders Liverpool. The gap was cut from nine points to seven in midweek following the Reds' late 3-3 draw against Newcastle United at St James' Park.
And if Arsenal or Chelsea or both win their games on Sunday, the Reds' lead will be just four points, albeit with a game in hand. However, with that game in hand being an away Merseyside Derby, it's never going to be easy, no matter where the Toffees are in the table.
And the fact it will now have to be shoe-horned into Liverpool's already busy schedule will make things that bit more difficult later in the season, too, particularly when you look at where it could be fit in.
A busy festive schedule leaves no midweek options for Liverpool before the turn of the year. There is one midweek space at the start of January but, should Liverpool beat Southampton in the Carabao Cup quarter-final, that will be the date of the first leg of the semi-final, with February 8 the week of the second leg.
Liverpool then have Premier League and Champions League games in midweek slots thereafter, with a winter break to come at the start of February, too. The next available slot for a midweek fixture is a tasty-looking one.
The first available midweek for the Merseyside Derby to be rescheduled - bar that midweek at the start of January - is the week of February 17, right after the winter break. The Reds host Wolves at Anfield on Saturday, December 15, subject to change for TV coverage, and they could then play Everton at Goodison Park on either the Tuesday or the Wednesday.
The reason that is significant in the Premier League title race, and of interest to Arsenal, is that it will mean back-to-back huge away games for Liverpool. If the Everton clash is moved to that midweek, Liverpool would follow that up with a trip to the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City on February 22, although that showdown is almost certain to be moved to Sunday, February 23 for TV coverage.
It will be a huge week for the Reds if the fixture is moved to then - and could be a pivotal one in the title race that Arsenal may look to come the end of the season.