Man City vs Liverpool kick off time confirmed by the Premier League, amid fan trouble impacting the fixture in recent years

Manchester City‘s Premier League clash against Liverpool at the Etihad on February 23 will kick off at 4.30pm, despite concerns over fan trouble.

The two sides have been involved in several memorable matches in recent years as they’ve battled for trophies and league titles.

Under Jurgen Klopp, the Reds were runners-up to Pep Guardiola‘s side in the Premier League on two occasions in 2018-19 and 2021-22. Liverpool were one point off their rivals in both years despite racking up 97 and 92 points respectively.

City similarly came second in the table when Liverpool won the Premier League for the first time in 2019-20. 

The Reds comfortably saw off City 2-0 in this season’s encounter at Anfield, with the February match unlikely to have a meaningful impact on the Premier League title race given City’s disastrous form that has seen them win one of their past 11 games in all competitions.

Nevertheless, the fixture will still hold great significance among both sets of fans given it has become one of the most intense rivalries in the top flight.

Meetings between City and Liverpool are among the most anticipated in English football

However, the fixtures have been marred by several unsavoury incidents in recent years 

Unfortunately, there have been several high-profile unsavoury incidents, with the match being forced to kick off earlier times in recent seasons on the order of police.

This included this month’s clash at Anfield, which was brought forward to 4pm from its original 4.30pm kick off time.

Back in November 2023 the fixture was moved from 5.30pm on a Saturday to the 12.30pm slot.

It was also played at 3.45pm on a Sunday in March, as opposed to the usual 4.30pm kick off time.

Meanwhile, in terms of the string of incidents between the teams, back in March 2018, City’s team bus was struck by bricks, flares and other missiles as they arrived at Anfield for a Champions League quarter-final.

This forced the club to change vehicles for the return journey and Liverpool were fined by UEFA but police made no arrests.

In October 2021, City made an official complaint that members of their coaching staff were spat at while on the bench at Anfield. Liverpool launched an inquiry but found no evidence. 

Less than a year later, a minority of City fans interrupted a minute’s silence to remember victims of the Hillsborough disaster before an FA Cup semi-final between the teams.

There have been various flashpoints off the pitch between both teams and supporters

This season, Pep Guardiola responded to taunts from Liverpool fans by holding up six fingers

The bad blood didn’t stop there however, with Guardiola claiming coins were thrown at him by Liverpool fans during a heated October 2022 clash, while City also alleged their team bus was attacked again.

Pictures then emerged of graffiti referring to the Hillsborough and Heysel stadium disasters in vandalised toilets in the away end at Anfield.

Both clubs had joined forces to call for calm ahead of a Carabao Cup tie later that year, but a 15-year-old was left ‘scarred for life’ after a beer pot filled with coins was thrown from the Liverpool section and hit her. 

At this season’s game between the sides, Guardiola was taunted by Liverpool fans before the Spaniard responded by holding up six fingers, in relation to the number of Premier League titles he has won with City.

Given the rivalry built up between the teams, it is hoped that the 4.30pm kick off won’t cause any problems – and the move also comes after City’s Manchester derby with United was allowed to take place at 4.30pm by Greater Manchester Police last Sunday.

Liverpool currently sit top of the Premier League, two points clear of Chelsea, while City languish in fifth, nine points adrift of the Reds.