Liverpool have been drawn away to Aston Villa in the FA Cup but their Anfield stadium could still host the tie of the round as Merseyside part-timers Marine take on Jose Mourinho’s Premier League leaders, Tottenham Hotspur, according to a report.
Some 167 places separate Northern Premier League Division One West outfit Marine and their visitors from London – a record for the third round.
However, the Mariners will have to seek an alternative venue to their home ground in Crosby if it cannot be made ‘Covid-19 secure.’
Rossett Park on College Road holds 3,185 of which 389 are seated but 2,000 could be permitted to attend under new coronavirus restrictions with all of Merseyside in Tier 2.
Football.london states that would make social distancing impossible and instead Marine will have to look to the surrounding area to play the match, with Liverpool’s Anfield – six miles away - and Tranmere’s Prenton Park – 10 miles - options.
They add that Everton are at home to Rotherham United at Goodison Park but Liverpool and Tranmere have been drawn away ties.
However, it’s worth pointing out that with a limited number of spectators now allowed back in, it seems unlikely that Merseyside Police would allow two matches to be played on the same day at Goodison and Anfield so Everton’s home might also be an option if the Marine game has to take place on an alternative date over the third round weekend (Saturday, January 9).
Marine manager Neil Young claims Rossett Park can host 1,600 fans safely though and remains hopeful that his team can stay put.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme : “We'll play at home hopefully. I presume they'll be safety standards people there involved and the police will have things to say. We'll see what happens.
"If you were to move it, you'd have to move it to another ground probably, a local ground, rather than go away from home.
“The plan is to play at Marine if we can. It's a proper cup tie, it's what the FA Cup is about. It took seven games to get here, this is our reward and they don't come much bigger.
“Our ground actually only has three sides, there's houses on one side. People can [watch from bedroom windows], they'll be people in trees and everything. It's a tight little ground, a lovely little ground and it'll be very welcome to Tottenham Hotspur."
