Message to football fans ahead of Merseyside derby

Tomorrow, Wednesday 12 February, is an historic occasion for the city of Liverpool as we mark the final Merseyside derby at Goodison park.

With around 40,000 football fans attending the game, we hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable time and we all see the Grand Old Lady off in style.

As with all major events, public safety is our main priority, and we have been working closely with both football clubs for months to assist in planning for this event.

We will use a variety of policing tactics including highly visible police patrols and less visible measures such as plain-clothes officers to ensure everyone enjoys the occasion safely.

Chief Superintendent Claire Doyle in charge of the policing operation for the match, said: "As with any game, a comprehensive and appropriate policing operation has been put in place ahead of tomorrow’s match and we have liaised with both clubs to achieve this.

“These plans take into account a range of factors including any previous incidents and fixtures between the clubs.

"While recognising that some supporters feel they can add to the atmosphere of the occasion, the use of flares and other pyrotechnics at and around football matches is a concern. We fully support the club in working to eradicate this dangerous and reckless practice and would ask that supporters work with us.

“We have vast experience policing derby matches and know that fans of both clubs will mix with their family, friends and neighbours - regardless of whether they are Red or Blue - in the run up to this game, and it is an occasion that should be celebrated.

“We have a robust policing operation in place with officers ready to deal with any incidents that might arise.

"We know that this will be a busy operation, and we hope that fans attending the match will act as ambassadors for their clubs.

"As usual we would ask fans with tickets to arrive at the ground as early as possible. We urge fans without tickets or counterfeit tickets to not attend at all as they will not be allowed entry into the stadium, and there are extra measures in place.

“Please plan your journey and give yourself plenty of time to get to the stadium. Road closures will be in place, so we urge people to use public transport to ease traffic congestion.

“As with any large event, we remind the public to be vigilant, trust their instincts and report any suspicious or unusual activity.

“We hope everyone has a fantastic and memorable time. This is the last derby game at Goodison park, and we encourage everyone to be behave responsibly so you can attend future matches at the new stadium next season.”