Liverpool can CELEBRATE as Premier League confirm dream date

Liverpool get exactly what they wanted from the Premier League. Now to take full advantage.

Things have been going very well for Liverpool lately, as you'll have noticed. The Reds top the Premier League and UEFA Champions League in Arne Slot's debut campaign.

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No one saw that coming, of course. This was supposed to be a transitional season - but it now looks like last season was the transitional year.

This campaign has Liverpool in full flight.

But naturally, this kind of form can be derailed. We saw it last season, in fact, as Jurgen Klopp's Reds went from potential quadruple-winners to settling for the EFL Cup.

Injuries and poor form combined to ruin the team's momentum. And there are legitimate worries that this could happen again.

Part of the reason for that is the postponed Merseyside derby. While putting things down to one match may feel a bit mad, the rescheduling of it risked causing Liverpool's fixture list to burst.

Basically, Liverpool lack proper slots to play the match. They're in every competition, after all, and there's still an international break to squeeze in.

To make matters worse, the Premier League don't want to upset UEFA by putting a major match on during midweek with the Champions League. And that was set to screw Liverpool over.

Because Liverpool are set to bypass the Champions League Play-off round, it created two free midweeks. That's unquestionably the best time to play the derby.

Without that as an option, the Reds would need to 'hope' elimination from a cup competition creates a window. Otherwise, there were legitimate suggestions that the derby could be played midweek before the last game of the season.

When will the Merseyside derby be played?

Fortunately, common sense has prevailed. Liverpool will play Everton at Goodison Park on February 12th, providing the Reds don't drop into the Champions League Play-off.

That's the perfect time for this one, getting it out of the way and still keeping Liverpool's fixture list relatively workable. Essentially, they've lost one midweek in February but gained a week off in December.

It doesn't get much better than that in what could have been a very complicated situation. Liverpool will still be better off, in fact, than if they'd fallen into the UCL Play-Off.

It's reason to celebrate, then. Liverpool retain a brilliant chance of competing for all four trophies, without major complications.

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