The Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool has reportedly been pencilled in for February 11, but there are still a number of obstacles for the Premier League to overcome before the date is officially confirmed.

Premier League rules dictate that postponed matches should be rearranged on the next available game week, but Liverpool has a packed fixture schedule in the months ahead; if the Reds beat Southampton in a Carabao Cup quarter-final next week, they will not have a free midweek until mid-February.

That has led to February 11 being eyed as a new date for the derby, but that date clashes with a Champions League game night, which means the Premier League will need approval from Uefa to schedule a match then.

Uefa’s rules include a ‘memorandum of understanding’ that ordinarily stops domestic matches taking place on a European game night, but exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis, and the Mirror reports that an exception is likely to made in this case.

The first legs of the Champions League play-off phase will take place on February 11 and 12, but Liverpool has effectively ensured it will bypass the play-offs with its strong league-phase performance. Liverpool is five points clear at the top of the table and is set to enter the Champions League knock-outs at the last-16 stage.

Meanwhile, an agreement for the rearrangement of Everton vs Liverpool also needs to be struck with the TV rights holders. TNT Sports holds the rights to show the Merseyside derby, and has reportedly given the green light to the game being played on February 11, despite also having the Champions League rights.

Amazon Prime also has the first pick of one match on every Tuesday of the Champions League this season, and the Merseyside derby taking place on a Tuesday, and being shown on TNT Sports, could take some of the broadcaster's audience share away on that night. Still, the match ultimately needs to be played and all parties will likely need to compromise in order for a new date to be agreed on.