Everton are not expected to hear the outcome of their planning application to build a new stadium until early next year.
The Blues had been hoping to receive an official answer from Liverpool City Council this month.
But the local authority being left stretched by the demands of the pandemic means the detailed proposal submitted by the club has yet to be fully worked through.
Everton are hoping the authority's planning committee will rule on the plans for a 52,888 capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock in late January.
The Blues are continuing with preparatory work on the dock site but are in the hands of Liverpool City Council on when their application will be seen by the planning committee.
Everton remain confident that should approval be granted early in 2021, they are still on course to open the new stadium for the first game of the 2024-25 season.
The club's latest accounts revealed Everton spent another £20m on planning, design and preparation for their proposed new home, in the last financial year.
