Liverpool’s upcoming match against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday is gaining a lot of attention. Arne Slot, who took over as Liverpool’s head coach this summer, has had a positive start, winning both games against Ipswich Town and Brentford. However, their next challenge is a tough one as they face their fierce rivals, United.
The match was initially scheduled to kick off at 4.30pm BST but has been pushed back by 30 minutes to 4pm. The reason for this change has not been officially stated, but it is likely due to the intense rivalry between the two clubs. Police and local authorities are keen to avoid fan trouble and disorder, and research has shown that even a small adjustment in match timing can have a positive impact on reducing crowd trouble.
This is not the first time a match between United and Liverpool has been rescheduled for this reason. Last season, their FA Cup quarter-final match had an unusual kick-off time of 3.30pm in an effort to minimize crowd trouble.
In the build-up to the match, football pundit Darren Bent has called for Erik ten Hag, the United manager, to start Alejandro Garnacho against Liverpool. Garnacho has only come off the bench in United’s previous two Premier League matches, and Bent believes he deserves a starting position. He suggests that Marcus Rashford could be dropped to make way for Garnacho, who has shown great energy and quality in his appearances. Bent argues that Rashford has not been performing well lately and that Garnacho’s hunger and readiness to perform make him a more deserving candidate for a place in the team.
As the match approaches, the spotlight is on both teams and the tactics they will employ. The rescheduled kick-off time adds to the anticipation, and fans are eager to see how the match unfolds.