By Andrew Warshaw
January 10 – The debate over Liverpool’s controversial decision to postpone today’s Premier league fixture with Tottenham Hotspur has been further fuelled by the Anfield club openly advertising official tours of the stadium for the very same day.
When the high-profile game was called off because of the weather 48 hours beforehand, furious fans flooded radio phone-ins to inquire how the decision could have been taken so early especially with the pitch perfectly playable.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger later called on the Premier League to ensure fair play by investigating all requests to postpone fixtures, the inference being that it could suit certain teams to get key players fit.
Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano would have served the last in a four-game suspension against Tottenham but that will now be replaced by the FA cup replay against Reading.
Moreover, today’s postponement - apparently for health and safety reasons on the approach roads to Anfield - gave Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres more time to regain full fitness.
Remarkably, despite the televised game being called off, Liverpool’s official website invited guests to visit the stadium.
Under the heading Sunday: “Enjoy stadium Tour”, the invitation added that “fans will be able to enjoy one of our acclaimed tours of Anfield on Sunday despite the wintery conditions.”
The website notice will infuriate both ticket holders and television supporters who had been keen to watch the game.
No allegations have been levelled at Liverpool since all but two Premier League fixtures were called off this weekend.
And in fairness, Tottenham would have been without the injured Aaron Lennon, arguably their most influential player.
But the North London club have enjoyed the greater momentum in the race for a Champions League spot and Liverpool’s website announcement can only serve to heighten suspicions, especially after Wenger’s comments.
‘The Premier League has a responsibility to check if everybody behaves honestly,”said the Arsenal manager.
“What maybe should happen is that the Premier League sends somebody…to investigate the pitch and make a decision.
“It can be a check on the surrounding area as well.”
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