Everton hopeful of staging Liverpool derby at Goodison Park | Football

Everton are hopeful of staging the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park when the Premier League season restarts after requesting a meeting of the local safety advisory group.

Liverpool’s visit to Goodison on 20 June, when Jürgen Klopp’s team could win the club’s first league title in 30 years, was among several “high-risk” matches that Mark Roberts, the UK’s national football police chief, wanted switched to neutral venues amid concerns over demands on police and fans gathering outside stadiums.

Merseyside police, however, appeared to contradict Roberts on Friday by stating they had no objections to policing matches in Liverpool.

Everton and Liverpool oppose plans to make them play at neutral venues and the former have confirmed their intention to host the derby by formally asking the advisory group to convene the meeting.

That is standard procedure before a discussion that will comprise the clubs, supporter groups, Liverpool council, police and other emergency services plus the Sports Grounds Safety Authority.

The advisory group will recommend whether a safety certificate required to stage the game should be issued. The meeting is unlikely to take place until next week given the numerous bodies involved, with Premier League clubs convening on Thursday to discuss Project Restart protocols, including neutral venues.