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Former Lionesses goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about Chelsea's WSL game against Liverpool being called off six minutes in due to a frozen pitch.

"There's a protocol for exactly this. If the surface is not deemed playable, which at 9:30am when the referee and the ground staff checked it and it was deemed dangerous, that the game should be called off," Brown-Finnis said.

"I don't understand at what point in that process that it was ever going to be deemed playable. The temperature was only going to remain below freezing on the day and it should never have been played. It's very, very simple.

"From what I understood yesterday there was no one there from the FA. That was my belief when I asked about that.

"Now when the decision is to be made it's apparently between the FA, between the teams and the referee, and the decision that was made was made without a representative from the FA. That's what I believe.

"But as far as being called off at the last minute, I've never seen a game start on TV and then 10 minutes it’s called off."

Jo Currie
BBC Sport

In all my time covering the Women's Super League, this is one of the weirdest set of events I have witnessed.

It was my understanding that at the 09:30 referee's inspection, the pitch was deemed unplayable. This was confirmed by Matt Beard after the game. It seemed only a matter of when, not if, the game would be called off.

Before kick-off, areas off the pitch certainly looked like they were still solid.

Beard says he told the referee the game was not safe to go ahead, but the match kicked off anyway.

In terms of player safety, there were two main issues.

The surface was so hard in places that if any of the players had fallen heavily, they could have suffered a serious injury or a concussion.

Also, the covers were still on the pitch 45 minutes before kick-off, so could they have had time to do a proper warm-up?

Many questions will be asked about how this game was ever allowed to kick-off. The one thing that is clear however, is it should never have gone ahead.

The postponement of Chelsea v Liverpool six minutes into their Women's Super League game due to a frozen pitch has been described as "embarrassing".

The game - live on BBC Two - had kicked off as scheduled at 12:30 GMT at Kingsmeadow in Kingston upon Thames following an earlier pitch inspection.

But just six minutes had gone when referee Neil Hair took the teams off, deeming the pitch unsafe.

Reds boss Matt Beard said the decision to kick off risked players' safety.

The sequence of events on Sunday - starting with a 09:30 pitch inspection and ending with players slipping over and disappointed supporters being addressed by Chelsea boss Emma Hayes - was widely criticised by the managers and pundits, as well as players on social media.

Full story.

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Jonathan: How can Sean Dyche not being considered for Everton??? He went into Burnley and not only changed the team on the pitch but also changed things behind the scenes! Plus you will know one thing that they will be defensively more solid!

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

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The big question for Everton is what does Farhad Moshiri do now?

After spending so long not watching his team in the flesh, this provided him with the evidence for where his tenure - and an outlay in excess of £500m - has left them.

Although they dominated for an extended period at the start of the second half, Everton lacked the guile to prise open a determined home defence. Danny Ings' introduction for his debut 20 minutes from time must have been particularly painful for Lampard as the striker was someone he was trying to attract to Goodison Park before he moved to West Ham for an initial £12m on Friday.

Indeed, it was West Ham who came closest to adding to their lead as Pickford turned Emerson's shot on to the bar, and Rice rolled an effort marginally wide of the far post.

Moshiri was sat on the same row as chairman Bill Kenwright, chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale and between football director Kevin Thelwell and director Graeme Sharp.

Kenwright was shown on his own near the end, but it is Moshiri who must now decide whether Lampard will remain in his job, the former West Ham player taunted with a "sacked in the morning" jibe from the home fans.

Read more.

Everton manager Frank Lampard says he "absolutely" does not fear being sacked after his side were beaten by West Ham in the Premier League.

The Toffees are without a win in the top flight since October and are stuck in a relegation battle in 19th place.

Everton's poor form, consisting of six defeats and two draws, is Lampard's longest winless run as a manager in league competition.

"I don't get that far down the line to fear," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

When asked by Sky Sports if it was time Lampard was sacked, Everton owner Farhad Moshiri - who was at London Stadium to watch his team in action for the first time in 14 months - replied: "I can't comment. It's not my decision."

Full story.

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Everton's majority owner Farhad Moshiri has held talks with the club's board about manager Frank Lampard's future and possible replacements for the ex-England midfielder.(Telegraph - subscription required), external

Former Burnley manager Sean Dyche is not under consideration for the job at Goodison Park.(Mail), external

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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Everton manager Frank Lampard is in such a perilous position that it will be a greater shock if he survives than if he is sacked.

Lampard has overseen a run of only one point from Everton's past seven Premier League games, at Manchester City, and they are now deep in relegation trouble in 19th place with only three wins and 15 points from 20 games.

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri, who last attended a game at Goodison Park in October 2021, was present to watch the 2-0 loss at fellow strugglers West Ham that will surely end Lampard's reign after less than a year in charge.

It certainly looked and sounded ominous when Moshiri refused to back Lampard as he was 'doorstepped' at London Stadium, although suggesting it was not his decision was at odds with the usual impression given - that the billionaire's volatility and impatience is behind so many bad moves, including five managerial sackings, that have put Everton in this parlous plight.

Lampard's class as a personality - and his willingness to engage with an increasingly angry fanbase - means his leaving would not be celebrated by fans. But results have simply been not good enough after last season's late escape from relegation.

Everton's board were at least in attendance at West Ham, having stayed away from the last home game against Southampton at Goodison Park on security advice - which meant they saw in person just how discontented supporters are, with more protests and banners demanding their removal.

This may happen eventually - but the person who currently looks in most danger of removal is Lampard.

We've had a look at the top end of the table, let's have a look at the bottom.

Southampton are rock bottom after a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday.

Everton, who lost to West Ham, are 19th and on the same points as the Saints but with a better goal difference.

Frank Lampard's future with the Toffees is unknown. Will owner Farhad Moshiri stick or twist with the former England international?

As always we want to hear from you.

We've reached the halfway point in the season and there's only eight days of the January transfer window remaining.

So... we have two questions for you.

How do you sum up your team's performance from the first half of the season?

And, who do you think your club should sign in January?

Let us know by tweeting #bbcfootball, texting 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate), or text your comments via WhatsApp on 03301231826

BBC Radio 5 Live

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Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has been on BBC Radio 5 Live this morning: "You have to really commend the work that Arteta has done with Arsenal.

"They played really, really well yesterday, and the positive thing from Manchester United’s point of view is that we did make a game.

"We were competitive. But for most of the game, I also thought that we were second best, so they looked really strong arsenal, but it was entertaining. A bit too emotional, but entertaining.

"Arteta has definitely changed Arsenal. It's very entertaining the way they play. You can see that he's worked with Guardiola. With how Pep wants to play, there's a lot of that in in the game.

"But [Arteta has] done well. He's got some really, really good players. You know what he's done with Odegaard, who for so many years has been a talent that people talked about.

"And all of a sudden he's this commanding, controlling captain in in the Arsenal midfield. And he's involved in everything they do. And it's it's quite brilliant to see."

Have a listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds as Ben Haines, Nigel Reo-Coker, Neil Taylor and Jobi McAnuf react to the weekend's Premier League action.

Listen here.

Five points clear at the halfway point. Can Arsenal go the whole way and win their first Premier League title since the 2003-04 season?

Hit the thumbs.

Arsenal have racked up 50 points at the halfway point, are five points clear at the top and they have a game in hand on the teams behind them.

Manchester City are closest to the Gunners in the title chase, with the two sides yet to face each other in the Premier League this season.

However, Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola will come face to face on Friday in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Perhaps that game will be telling on who will lift the Premier League trophy come the end of the season.

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