The match is the fourth top flight fixture to be called off due to the adverse weather conditions.

Liverpool's requested that the match be postponed on Friday morning  after consultation with police over what they felt was dangerous road conditions around the stadium.

The Anfield pitch was playable due to undersoil heating, but roads around the stadium are covered in ice, and the police considered that a danger to a potential sell-out crowd of 45,000.

A spokesman told Liverpool's official website: "Although the Anfield pitch is perfectly playable for the game, the problem we face is the icy condition of the approach roads and paths in the immediate vicinity of the stadium.

"The safety of our fans is paramount and an assessment of both the prevailing conditions and the weather forecast for the next 48 hours has been made in arriving at the decision to call off the match. Both local police and the City Council were fully involved in this assessment.

"All existing tickets will remain valid for the re-arranged game. We will also offer refunds and will publish a deadline date for refunds once the re-arranged fixture date is announced, such that we can re-sell any returned seats to other supporters."