Liverpool's visit to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea has been postponed this weekend, despite seven other Premier League fixtures taking place.
Following the death of Her Majesty the Queen last Thursday, football across the United Kingdom was cancelled, including grassroots, as the sport paid its respect to the country's longest-reigning British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
However, on Friday evening the professional football in England returned as Aston Villa and Southampton played out a drab 1-0 in the Midlands, while Nottingham Forest and Fulham played out a more entertaining five-goal thriller on the other side of the region.
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But despite football returning, Jurgen Klopp 's side will be without a Premier League fixture for the second consecutive weekend as their clash with Graham Potter's Chelsea, scheduled for Sunday 19, was postponed earlier this week. The decision from the Premier League to rearrange the fixture for a later date, explained in a statement released on Monday afternoon, confused many supporters given that Brentford would be hosting Arsenal in London just hours earlier.
Announcing that Manchester United's game against Leeds United would also be called off, the statement read : "Following extensive consultation with clubs, police, local Safety Advisory Groups and other relevant authorities, there was no other option but to postpone the three fixtures."
The third fixture to be cancelled was Brighton vs Crystal Palace, which had been postponed earlier in the week due to rail strikes that had been planned on the day of the fixture, September 17, but were ultimately cancelled following the death of Her Majesty the Queen.
With the Queen's funeral due to take place on Monday, September 19, and leaders from across the world due to attend, the added police presence required for the event would have left both Liverpool and Manchester United's fixtures potentially under policed.
Brentford's game with Arsenal at the Gtech Community Stadium, despite being moved to an earlier kick-off time of midday, goes ahead because the fixture between the two clubs does not require as heavy a police presence as the two aforementioned fixtures, which can be deemed as high rivalry matches for fans due to plenty of history between both sides in each fixture.
Liverpool are next in action against Brighton on October 1, after the international break.
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