Rearranged Merseyside derby 'pencilled in for week commencing April 22'

Liverpool were set to travel to Goodison Park on Sunday in what would have been one of the most important derby encounters in recent memory, with the two fighting at opposite ends of the table.

Everton are still embroiled in relegation trouble due to the six-point penalty handed to them by the Premier League, while Liverpool are in the hunt for another Premier League title along with Manchester City and Arsenal.

The fixture was postponed following Liverpool's victory over Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round last month, as Jurgen Klopp's side were then drawn against Manchester United in the quarter-finals.

With Liverpool still fighting on three fronts, it appeared as though the only slot where the derby could have been replayed would have been during the final midweek of the season.

That could have potentially made Everton title deciders, considering they would have then faced both Liverpool and Arsenal in their final two games of the season.

However, Liverpool's dramatic 4-3 defeat at Old Trafford in the FA Cup on Sunday has opened up an additional avenue for the game to be rearranged.

Everton insider The Bobble claims that discussions are ongoing about when to rearrange the fixture, but the week commencing April 22 has been pencilled in.

Had Liverpool progressed, their fixture versus Fulham on April 21 would also have been postponed due to that being FA Cup semi-final weekend, and moving it into the following midweek would have been likely.

With Klopp's men favourites to go far in the Europa League too, that would have taken out a further four midweek slots in the remaining weeks of the campaign, leaving just the final midweek of the season available.

However, with the Fulham game now set to take place in its original slot, that leaves the following midweek free for the derby to be rearranged before the final week of the season.

It does mean that Liverpool's schedule will remain intense, as they could play three away Premier League games in the space of six days.

Facing Atalanta in the Europa League quarter-finals on April 18 means the Fulham encounter will move to Sunday April 21, and should the pencilled-in derby be played the following midweek, it will be either on April 24 or 25, before Liverpool then go to West Ham United the next weekend.

For Everton, it means they would play three straight home games at what is likely to be a pivotal point in the campaign as they look to maintain their Premier League status.

Either side of the rearranged derby would be clashes with relegation candidates Nottingham Forest and Brentford, both of which will be earmarked as must-win encounters.

Heading into the international break, Sean Dyche's side have moved another point clear of safety without even playing, thanks to Forest's four-point deduction that has been handed out by the Premier League, dropping them into the relegation zone below Luton Town.