Manchester United's Premier League showdown with Liverpool has been postponed following protests by supporters at Old Trafford.
The match was initially scheduled to kick off at 4.30pm on Sunday, but demonstrations against Man United's owners the Glazers forced that to be pushed back, and the match was officially called off more than an hour after it was due to begin.
Man United supporters broke into Old Trafford to protest on the pitch, while they also gathered outside the Lowry Hotel where the players are staying, preventing them from getting to the game.
A Premier League statement addressing the postponement confirmed that "the rearrangement of the fixture will be communicated in due course", although opportunities to fulfill the match between now and the end of the domestic season on May 23 appear scarce.
Man United's fixture list is particularly full due to their involvement in the latter stages of the Europa League, meaning that the Red Devils only have one break of longer than four days scheduled for the remainder of the campaign.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side face Roma in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final on May 6, take on Aston Villa on May 9, Leicester City on May 12, Fulham on May 19 and Wolverhampton Wanderers on May 23, in addition to a probable Europa League final appearance on May 26.
United's only options to play the match therefore appear to be either a hastily-rearranged game on Monday, May 3, or between May 12 and May 19.
However, Liverpool are due to face West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, May 16, meaning that their match against the Baggies would also need to be switched to the preceding midweek in order to fit the Man United vs. Liverpool game in that weekend.
Failure to fulfill the fixture could see Liverpool awarded the victory and three points, which could prove vital in the race for Champions League football next season.
Barney Corkhill
