London (AFP)

The Merseyside County police, on whose territory are the stadiums of Anfield Road and Goodison Park, where the clubs of Liverpool and Everton play at home, declared themselves ready to supervise the matches of these two teams of the city from the north of England when the Premier League resumes.

"Merseyside police are ready to provide all the police services necessary for matches played in our Premier League stadiums after the season has restarted," Merseyside police said in a statement by the local daily Liverpool Echo.

"In connection with delinquency and disorder, we have no objection to the home games of Everton or Liverpool being played on their respective fields," the statement said.

"We have a good working relationship with the two clubs and their supporters, and we look forward to working together to resume the season," said county police.

The enthusiastic statements contradict comments made by deputy chief of police for South Yorkshire, Mark Roberts, on Friday. He said matches, including those involving Liverpool, could be moved at the request of the police.

The current Premier League season, which has been stopped since mid-March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is set to resume on June 17 with two games late for day 29, before the scheduled day 30 from 19 to 22 June.

The Mersey derby - named after the river flowing through Liverpool - between the "Reds" and the "Toffees" is among the matches which, according to Mark Roberts, can be moved to neutral ground.

Liverpool, leader with 25 points ahead of Manchester City at the time of the Premier League break, need to take six points in the last 9 days to be crowned champion of England for the first time since 1990.

© 2020 AFP