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Merseyside Police withdrew their legal challenge to bring forward the Merseyside Derby kick-off time after an out-of-court compromise was reached.

The force mounted an appeal bid after Liverpool council’s licensing committee last week turned down a request to amend the terms of the ground safety certificate to bring forward the 5.30pm kick-off time to lunchtime.

They said there was an increased risk of drunken disorder, with fans spending more time drinking before the televised match starts on Saturday.

Watch: David Prentice on the Merseyside Derby decision

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Police chiefs said that would cause unnecessary risk, which would require increased policing, funded by the taxpayer.

But a compromise between police, the council and Everton FC, was reached today at South Sefton magistrates’ court without the need for a judge’s ruling.

Re-read our blog from South Sefton Magistrates' Court on the hearing and its aftermath

Anne Whyte, representing the police, told the court that “a constructive approach has prevailed”.

She said that Everton FC, which is hosting the game, had undertaken to “alter and improve” segregation arrangements between fans from both clubs.

She added that the council and police would agree to a “structured timetable” for the consideration of ground safety certificates issued for ‘risk’ matches in the future.

It is understood that this resolution would enable the police to show a stronger hand to rebuff broadcasters wanting to show matches with added safety concerns, such as the derby, on weekend evenings in the future.

Deputy chief constable Andy Cooke told the ECHO that the plan for the late kick-off will require 254 police officers covering the area around the stadium, inside the stadium and also the city centre.

He said: “The operation would be extended to 17 hours, which would result in valuable resources being displaced from their ordinary duties from across Merseyside. Additional resources would also be deployed to police licensed premises across the county.

“The cost of that operation to date would be £78,500 and at least £50,000 of that would not be recoverable from the club. There is no doubt that the late kick off, to facilitate the match being played on live TV, would significantly stretch our resources.”

As revealed by the ECHO earlier today, Everton confirmed to the Premier League it could host the Merseyside derby at its scheduled kick-off time of 5.30pm on Saturday.

There will be double the number of police support units that are normally at the ground, paid for by Everton.

The club will have 430 club stewards together with 50 agency stewards, who will be focussed on higher risk areas.

Merseyside Police timeline