Pep Guardiola defends Man City against early kick-off time vs Liverpool

Premier League returns after international break with blockbuster match. Manchester City manager jokes about early kick-off time against Liverpool.

The Premier League is set to make its return after the international break with a highly anticipated match on Saturday afternoon. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola made a lighthearted comment on Friday, jokingly asking not to be blamed for the early kick-off time in the game against Liverpool.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has expressed his dissatisfaction with the timing of the match, highlighting his team's previous experiences with early Saturday kick-offs. The decision to move the game to an earlier time was made in response to recommendations from the safety advisor group, aimed at minimizing the risk of fan unrest. Recent games between the two clubs have been marred by incidents, with one particularly disturbing incident involving a 15-year-old girl being hit by a beer glass weighted with coins thrown from the Liverpool fans' section during an away game at Etihad Stadium in Carabao Cup.

When asked about his thoughts on Klopp's concerns, Guardiola expressed sympathy while also humorously distancing Manchester City from any blame. This comes at a time when the club is facing renewed scrutiny, particularly following Everton's 10-point deduction. Notably, Manchester City is under investigation for 115 charges of Financial Fair Play breaches, with the Premier League launching an unprecedented set of charges against the club in February. These charges include allegations of misrepresenting their financial situation and failing to cooperate with the investigation.

The upcoming match between Manchester City and Liverpool is highly anticipated, and the comments from both managers add an extra layer of intrigue to the game. As the Premier League gears up for its return, the focus will undoubtedly be on this blockbuster match and the ongoing developments surrounding Manchester City's legal and financial issues.