A significant Manchester derby is on the horizon this weekend, but fans are in for a surprise as the match has been scheduled for an unusual kick-off time.
On Sunday, bitter rivals Man United will play host to Man City, and the game is set to commence at 3:30 pm.
This timing deviates from the norm, as Sunday’s later Premier League matches typically start at 4:30 pm.
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The deviation from the usual schedule has raised questions: why has the Man United vs Man City derby been moved an hour earlier?
The reason behind this early kick-off is an agreement reached between the two clubs.
Following the decision to reschedule the fixture to Sunday, October 29 at 3:30 pm, Manchester United issued a statement on their official club website.
It states: “The unusual start time was agreed following consultation between the clubs, the broadcaster and local authorities.”
The alteration in the kick-off time was made without specifying a particular reason, aside from an agreement between the involved parties.
This match holds immense significance for both Manchester teams, especially for City, who require a positive outcome to keep pace with their fellow title contenders, Tottenham and Arsenal.
Meanwhile, United, currently in eighth place due to a challenging season start, is banking on a crucial victory in the derby to propel them higher in the league standings.
In addition to the rescheduled United vs City match, the West Ham vs Everton fixture has also been moved an hour earlier.
They are set to kick off at 1 pm on Sunday afternoon, diverging from the usual 2 pm start time for early games on that day.
It’s important for fans to note that UK clocks will be set back by an hour at 2 am on Sunday morning.
