Clubs face fixture backlog

Liverpool and Arsenal face an increased workload over the next six weeks after heavy fog forced the postponement of their Carling Cup quarter-final at Anfield last night.

With a hectic festive programme ahead both teams were keen for the match to go ahead but referee Martin Atkinson had some concerns about visibility for his linesmen and also for certain sections of the crowd, which could in turn impinge on safety.

Liverpool and Arsenal now both face eight matches – including an FA Cup third round tie against each other at Anfield – in the next 40 days with no obvious gap to fit in their replay.

One suggestion is to reschedule it to coincide with one of the dates for the semi-final, which are pencilled in for January 9 and 10. That would in turn put one of the two-legged last-four clashes back but with the Champions League re-starting in February there does not seem much option.

“It will be very difficult to find room to play this game,” said Wenger.

“Both clubs are involved in Europe and we play Liverpool again in the FA Cup. It will be very difficult to play.”

The day had begun badly for the Gunners when their plane was diverted to Blackpool airport because of the foggy conditions in Liverpool.

Then when the match was called off club officials had to race around to work out a way to get the squad home.

The match had been in doubt from early in the evening with Anfield shrouded in thick mist but hopes were raised when Atkinson undertook his first inspection at 6.15pm and said, if things had not deteriorated in 30 minutes, the game would go ahead.

However, on his return at 6.45pm conditions had worsened and Atkinson, concerned about visibility for both his officials and players, decided the situation was unlikely to improve and so declared the match unplayable.

At that time many fans were still stuck in traffic, backed-up because of the fog, and would have struggled to have made the 7.45pm kick-off.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was unhappy the match did not go ahead.

“I think we could have played but you cannot change the decision. You must respect it but we didn’t agree,” he said.

Atkinson argued he had many factors to consider, not least the ability of the match officials to be able to do their job properly but also the safety of a full house at Anfield.

“When you looked across the pitch from the far (Centenary Stand) side you couldn’t see the other touchline. I have to think of my assistant referees and the control of the game,” said the Yorkshire referee.

“For us to start the game and then have an assistant not being able to see an offside decision would bring the game into a farce.

“We went into the stands, looked round from different angles from a spectator’s point of view and you couldn’t see some parts of the pitch.”

Wenger said he would have happily played the match today but there was not enough time to put everything in place.

“It is impossible in 24 hours to rearrange a game,” he added.

Anfield stadium manager Ged Poynton explained: “You need 10 days’ notice minimum to inform Merseyside Police for their requirements.”