- The anticipated clash was due to be given the late Saturday kick-off at 5.30pm
- But game was switched to 12.30pm after repeated violent fan trouble at fixture
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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp took out his frustration over the scheduling of Saturday’s crunch clash at Manchester City by jokingly grabbing a Sky Sports reporter in a headlock during training on Thursday.
The Reds boss was left fuming after they were handed the Saturday 12.30pm fixture directly after the international break for the third time in a row this season.
The match at the Etihad between the Premier League’s top two will kick off a little over 72 hours after players from both sides were involved in South American World Cup qualifiers including Brazil v Argentina more than six thousand miles away.
Klopp blasted the Premier League and television companies over the scheduling the crucial title clash.
While the real reason for the early kick-off is due security concerns after recent fan trouble at the fixture, Klopp still took his frustration out on the broadcasters.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp with Sky Sports reporter Vinny O’Connor on Thursday
As Klopp spoke to O’Connor during training, he grabbed the reporter in a playful headlock
As he spoke to Sky Sports’ Vinny O’Connor during a session at their training ground, Klopp grabbed the reporter in a playful headlock.
‘Thank you for the 12.30!’ he joked as he delivered a soft jab to O’Connor’s stomach.
Sky Sports had, in fact, requested a 5.30pm kickoff for the top-of-the-table clash, but this was rejected after consultation with police.
The UK’s two main sports broadcasters have therefore effectively swapped slots, with Sky Sports taking the 12.30pm slot usually aired on TNT Sports while Brentford vs. Arsenal will kick off at 5.30pm on the latter.
Recent matches between the two sides have produced disturbances, including an episode where a 15-year-old girl was left “scarred for life” after being struck by a pint cup weighted with coins thrown from the Liverpool supporters’ section onto the home fans during the Carabao Cup tie last December.
During the Premier League fixture at Anfield in October, City coach Pep Guardiola claimed he was targeted by coins, while the club said that their team bus was also attacked, with damage to the windscreen.
Likewise, City fans were accused of trashing the Anfield away end and singing Hillsborough chants.
As a result, the local safety advisory group, which encompasses law enforcement authorities among others, expressed reservations about permitting the fixture to commence in the late Saturday slot, choosing to reschedule the game to mitigate any potential risks.
There were a number of crowd disturbances during December’s Carabao Cup tie at the Etihad
During the tie 15-year-old girl was left ‘scarred for life’ after a pint cup weighted with coins was thrown from the Liverpool section onto home fans
Earlier last season, Pep Guardiola claimed he was targeted by coins when City lost at Anfield, and City said their team bus was also attacked, with damage to the windscreen pictured (right)
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