Liverpool’s trip to Man United in the Premier League has been moved to an unusual kickoff time, after full dates for the Champions League were confirmed.
UEFA announced on Friday that, if they progress to the Champions League semi-finals, Liverpool would play either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich on Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday, May 6.
Soon after, the Premier League confirmed the TV picks for the first matchweek of May – the 35th games of the league campaign.
Man United vs. Liverpool has been moved to Sunday, May 3 and will kick off at 3.30pm live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Why Man United vs. Liverpool is a 3.30pm kickoff
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Monday, August 22, 2022: Mounted police walk between the supporters arriving before the FA Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
That is a change to the usual schedule for Sky Sports’ Super Sunday as an additional security measure around one of English football’s most high-profile fixtures.
While the Super Sunday slots are usually reserved as 2pm and 4.30pm, safety officials will occasionally request ‘high risk’ fixtures slated for the later kickoff are moved to earlier in the day.
Liverpool’s trips to Old Trafford in the FA Cup quarter-finals in March 2024 and then the Premier League in April 2024 were both scheduled as 3.30pm kickoffs for that reason.
The same applied to the Manchester derby clashes at the Etihad in October 2023 and March 2024 due to extra requirements with policing.
BRIGHTON & HOVE, ENGLAND - Saturday, March 21, 2026: Liverpool's players form a pre-match huddle before the FA Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Liverpool FC at the AMEX Community Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
This fixture change means the dates of only three Liverpool games are yet to be determined: Crystal Palace away, Chelsea at home and Aston Villa away.
Liverpool’s trip to Palace is currently scheduled for April 25 but would need to be moved if they reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, while the same would apply to the clash at Villa if the Reds progress to the FA Cup final.
Meanwhile the visit of Chelsea would almost certainly move to Sunday, May 10 if Liverpool make it to the Champions League semi-finals.
This season’s Champions League final will take place in Budapest on Saturday, May 30 at 5pm (UK) – six days after the Premier League closer at home to Brentford.