Man United gets a rare kick-off time after Klopp’s fixture rants are finally acknowledged
Manchester United vs Everton in October will kick off at 7 pm despite being a selected televised game on a Sunday while Klopp delighted with Premier League’s new guidelines.
Unusual kick-off time for a Premier League game on a Sunday, but the change was made to help Manchester United’s Europa League fixture. Usually, the last Sunday game would begin at around 4.30 pm. But Premier League has changed their guidelines and it resulted in an unusual start time.
Teams that play in the Champions League on a Wednesday night will no longer be playing in the Saturday 12.30 pm kick-off. And Jurgen Klopp will be very happy about that News as the German was totally against this philosophy. Moreover, the Europa League, fixtures on Thursdays, are also considered. Thanks to the time change, now United will have under 72 hours to prepare for their game at Everton.
Man United fixture and Klopp complaints about the fixture timing
Managers have previously expressed dissatisfaction. With the lack of preparation time between European and Premier League competitions. Jurgen Klopp has been the most vocal in his condemnation of broadcasters for selecting his team for lunchtime kick-offs.
The Reds boss has long complained about fixture congestion in England. His most recent rant came in April when Liverpool was still in the hunt for four trophies. Liverpool had to travel to St. James’ Park for an early Premier League kick-off on a Saturday. A fixture between their two Champions League semi-final games with Villarreal.
During the last season’s Champions League Semifinals, Jurgen Klopp said
“If we play a Champions League semi-final, if you find another league in the world and another broadcaster where they put one team who is in the semi-final, might be two, might be three English teams, on a 12.30… what?“
“What are you doing? Why would you do that? So that’s why it’s so difficult to win four trophies, but nothing happens because nobody cares. The league and the broadcaster really have to try at least to help. We will see. I haven’t heard anything yet. Nobody from BT contacted me yet.”
Last season Premier league or the broadcasters didn’t help Liverpool who were fighting to keep their place in the title race with City. And also to become the first English club to win the Champions League trophy for the seventh time.
However, Liverpool somehow edged over Newcastle thanks to quick thinking from Naby Keita, the Reds won 1 – 0 that afternoon. Three days later in Spain Liverpool go into halftime with two goals down in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals. Liverpool’s 2 – 0 win in the first leg equalised in 45 mins and it was all square again (aggregate 2 – 2). Thanks to Fabiniho, Luiz Diaz and Sadio Mane as Liverpool found their way to display another remarkable comeback.
United will compete in the Europa League after finishing sixth in the Premier League last season. Along with Arsenal, Roma, and Lazio. The seedings will take place in late August with United in pot 1. They begin their Premier League season under their new manager at Old Trafford against Brighton and Hove Albion this Sunday.
