Chelsea v Liverpool is called off after six minutes due to the frozen pitch

Chelsea v Liverpool is called off after six minutes due to the frozen pitch. Liverpool manager Matt Beard speaking said: "They said about the players slipping on several occasions. Both players from both sides have slipped. Like I said before, the game should have never gone ahead.

On the pitch being frozen: "They were going to give it a chance, so that was the explanation. It wasn't safe down there [the dugout side]. There were patches in the centre and other areas. I guess where they had the heat, but the majority of the pitch, it wasn't the case. Chelsea have done everything they can to try and get the game on. I'm surprised it kicked off at 12.30pm because we got told this morning that we can try and kick off the game at 2pm, but we got a phone call to say that the game was back on at 12.30pm. I was a bit surprised.

"At the end of the day, the temperature was not going to change all day. It's only going to get colder now."

Chelsea tweeted...
The referee has taken the decision to abandon today's game due to a frozen pitch.

The club will provide a further announcement on the fixture in due course.

#cfcw

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said: "You could see from the opening minutes that it was like an ice rink down the sides. Matt Beard was upset that it even got to point and he's right.

"It's not for managers to decide if it's on - it's up to the FA and officials. We have to say to ourselves that it's time for undersoil heating. We've got to take our game seriously. Yes, we can have our blowers and pitch tents but it's not enough.

"The game should never have started. Everyone wanted to get the game on but when you have got emotions of teams wanting or not wanting to play, that's when you need a decision from above. The FA weren't here - they need to be making the decision.

"It wasn't playable at 9.30, so they said to give it until 2. There was a section that was quite hard, so they put blowers on it. They tested everywhere else and it wasn't too bad, but as soon as you take the covers off it becomes a different situation.

"On top of that, the temperature hasn't changed. When the sun rises and you get your feet on the grass, sometimes it can change - but it's a block underneath and not playable. I saw Niamh Charles slip. I understand; we have to put player safety first.

"We've made progress with investment into the quality of grasses and surfaces across the league. No game at the top level of the women's game should be cancelled. We need undersoil heating - we don't live in Barbados."

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