The Merseyside derby faced postponement as Everton, Liverpool, and key safety agencies convened at Goodison Park on Saturday morning.
The potential for the game to be called off was a hot topic after high-level meetings on Friday, with Liverpool on high alert for Storm Darragh. With the Met Office issuing an amber weather warning and predicting gusts of up to 70mph, Merseyside Police advised against all "non-essential" travel for Saturday, when the winds were expected to peak.
This led to the cancellation of public visits to the Royal Navy's flagship, HMS Prince of Wales, docked in Liverpool, and other events were also scrapped ahead of the weekend.
Decision-makers agreed to continue discussions into Saturday, timing it with Storm Darragh's arrival to make a call based on the actual weather conditions. Those talks resumed early Saturday at Goodison Park as the situation grew more dire.
By 7 am, the weather had already disrupted the travel network, with Merseyrail services in Liverpool and Wirral affected. In a separate development, a 7 am inspection at Aintree Racecourse resulted in the Bechers Chase meeting being called off due to wind damage to "track infrastructure".
The decision to call off the derby, especially given its significance as the final league game between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park, could have been a complex affair owing to the various plans in place to manage the event and the global broadcasting interest.
The game at Goodison Park was called off
The game at Goodison Park was called off (Image: PA)
But when Saturday came around - and indeed during the preceding days - the safety of the numerous fans expected at Goodison was paramount amidst severe weather conditions, with hazards such as falling debris from the surrounding homes and buildings being a serious concern.
The ferocity of the storm early in the morning and the risk of it escalating led the Safety Advisory Group - including representatives from both clubs, Merseyside Police, and Liverpool Council - to abandon the match "due to the risk to safety in the local area due to strong wind gusts, and an amber severe wind warning that remains in place until 6 am on Sunday".
Everton, all too aware of the potential dangers after the tragic death of their supporter Bernard Murphy, who was struck by flying timber at a match in Leicester City in 2004, understood the necessity of prioritizing safety.
The match at Leicester's Walkers Stadium, which took place amid severe weather, remains vividly remembered especially since the 20th anniversary of Mr Murphy's death was commemorated just two months ago when Everton visited Leicester. The club honored him with a wreath-laying ceremony.
Following the postponement of the game, Everton released a statement saying: "We apologize for the inconvenience caused and thank supporters for their understanding. Whilst we appreciate this will be deeply disappointing for supporters, the safety of fans, staff, and players is of paramount importance."
The cancellation means that the final derby at Goodison Park will be rescheduled, with expectations of an electrifying night-time encounter to bid farewell to one of world football's most legendary fixtures. Everton has confirmed that all tickets bought for the original date will be valid for the rescheduled match.