Gary Neville believes the postponement of Everton vs Liverpool is good news for the chasing pack, with Arsenal and Chelsea now having the chance to close the gap at the top of the Premier League table to just four points.
The Reds' game at Goodison Park was called off over safety concerns as Storm Darragh battered the west of England, and Arne Slot's men will now have to wait until Tuesday for their next game, away to Girona in the Champions League.
While Slot may be grateful for the extra rest his players will get as a result of the postponement, Liverpool's lack of a game means Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City can all move closer to the leader in the standings over the next couple of days.
Arsenal and Chelsea both have London derbies tomorrow tomorrow, with the Gunners travelling to Fulham and Enzo Maresca's men travelling to Tottenham. Manchester City, meanwhile, is in action against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Although Liverpool will have a game in hand over its nearest rivals after this weekend's round of games, Neville still thinks members of the chasing pack will get a psychological boost if they can reduce Liverpool's lead at the top.
“I think to get within four points psychologically is a big thing for those clubs,” Neville told NBC. “Because they were looking last week at nine points, 11 points if you’re City. So, there is a real closing of the gap and I think that does make a difference.”
Workmen collect cones at Goodison Park on the morning of the postponed Premier League match due to Storm Daragh, between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park on December 07, 2024 in Liverpool, England.
The last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park was postponed on Saturday
The rescheduled date for Everton vs Liverpool is likely to depend on whether Liverpool finishes in the top eight of the Champions League, which looks extremely likely at this moment in time considering the Reds are currently in top spot.
A top-eight finish would secure them a spot in the last 16, allowing them to bypass the knock-out rounds scheduled for February 11/12 and 18/19 next year. This would open up midweek slots for the Everton vs Liverpool game before Liverpool's last-16 matches, which are set to take place on on March 4/5 and 11/12.
In the unlikely event that Liverpool fails to finish in the top eight, the window for rescheduling the derby would shrink, especially if the team progresses to the latter stages of the Champions League.
Another possible date for the fixture could be the week commencing April 21, which would fall between a possible Champions League quarter-final second leg and semi-final first leg.