The Premier League paid almost seven million pounds to Manchester police. The reason is known

This Sunday, September 1st, the marquee match of the English Premier League between Manchester United and Liverpool will take place, with kickoff scheduled for 17:00 Central European Time.

According to the Daily Mail, in January 2024, the Premier League paid £7 million to Manchester police. The reason behind this payment is that the league wanted the match between United and Liverpool to be played later in the day. This payment, which league officials describe as a "gesture of thanks" rather than an attempt to influence the scheduling of matches, appears to have been effective.

However, the match between Manchester United and Liverpool will start at 17:00 CET, which is half an hour earlier than the broadcasters wanted. Nonetheless, it is still later than the April match between these teams, which started at 16:30 CET.

Traditionally, the police have opposed late kickoffs due to concerns that fans would have more time to drink, increasing the likelihood of problems and possible clashes between the supporters of the two teams. Although it is noted that the situation has improved recently, and the league hopes this trend continues. Liverpool will receive approximately 3,000 tickets for their fans.

It is also worth noting that towards the end of last season, there were rumors that Erik ten Hag might be sacked as Manchester United's head coach. The Dutchman ultimately stayed on, but we know that the world of football is fast-paced, and the club may already be preparing a replacement.