Arsenal's clash at home to PSV on Thursday has been postponed - leading to increased doubts over Chelsea vs Liverpool going ahead at the weekend.
Explaining the decision over the midweek Europa League clash, a UEFA statement said: "This is due to the severe limitations on police resources and organisational issues related to the ongoing events surrounding the national mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."
UEFA have confirmed a new date will be 'communicated in due course' with the fixture calendar already stretched given the upcoming break for the World Cup in Qatar.
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The decision shines the spotlight further on whether Liverpool's trip to Chelsea, currently set for a 4.30pm kick off on Sunday afternoon, will be able to go ahead given the situation in London.
Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, last weekend’s top flight fixtures were postponed as a mark of respect. The funeral for the monarch is scheduled to take place on Monday, September 19, and some reports have indicated there will be further postponements for a second round of matches.
Additional factors are also seemingly at play. According to the Mail Online , Sky Sports could be without a number of TV trucks for their coverage of this weekend’s ties. Sky are scheduled to show Chelsea vs Liverpool as things stand.
It has been claimed that due to Sky News providing 24/7 broadcasting in the build-up to the Queen’s funeral this coming weekend, Sky Sports may be without some TV trucks for their usual football coverage. Other matches scheduled to be live on Sky this weekend are Aston Villa vs Southampton, Tottenham vs Leicester and Brentford vs Arsenal.
The Mail report claims that the possible lack of TV cameras has emerged as a 'complicating factor' for this weekend’s ties - and cites Chelsea vs Liverpool as a 'high-risk fixture' as a result.
An article in The Times also suggested 'the strain on police resources before and during the Queen’s funeral may lead to postponements in the Premier League this weekend'. The report added that the Government was due to meet with all major sporting bodies this morning (Monday, September 12) with the intention to encourage fixtures to go ahead under police advice and ‘wherever possible.’
An article in the Telegraph published this afternoon also said Liverpool's visit to Chelsea "is increasingly doubtful as talks intensify between police, officials and the clubs."
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