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      Why is Man City vs Man Utd kicking off at 3:30pm instead of 4:30pm?

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      MANCHESTER giants United and City are ready to battle once again in a Premier League blockbuster – but there has been a bizarre change in the kick-off time.The Red Devils will be determined to bounce back from their crushing stoppage-time defeat against Fulham last weekend.
      Manchester United lost to Fulham in their last Premier League matchCredit: PA
      While United’s noisy neighbours City are hoping to keep up the pressure on league leaders Liverpool by keeping their 11-game undefeated streak alive.
      However, the players have been forced to prepare for a slightly changed kick-off time of 3:30pm instead of 4:30pm.
      And SunSport can explain the reason for this.
      Why is Man City vs Man Utd kicking off at 3:30pm?
      The mouthwatering Manchester derby has been moved from 4:30pm to 3:30pm following a reported agreement between broadcasters and police.
      Read more on Man Utd
      It also means that the earlier clash which sees Bournemouth travel to Burnley will now get underway at 1pm instead of 2pm.
      Both games will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League in the UK.
      When is Man City vs Man Utd?

      Manchester City vs Manchester United will take place on Sunday, March 3.
      Etihad is the allocated arena for this huge match and it can host around 53,400 passionate fans.
      Pep Guardiola’s men thrashed United 3-0 when the sides met earlier this season.
      Fans can follow SunSport’s live blog for minute-by-minute coverage.

      Have any matches been played at 3:30pm before?
      The reverse fixture which saw Manchester City travel to Manchester United on October 28, 2023, was also contested with a kick-off time at 3:30pm.
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      A statement on United’s official website previously read:
      The derby with Manchester City will be staged towards the end of the month, with the Old Trafford encounter being moved to 29 October, kicking off at 15:30 GMT.
      “The fixture, which we won 2-1 last season with Marcus Rashford netting a memorable winner, is to be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK.
      “The unusual start time was agreed following consultation between the clubs, the broadcaster and local authorities.”
      Televised Premier League matches in March
      Luton Town vs Aston Villa – March 2 (5:30pm) SKY SPORTS
      Burnley vs Bournemouth – March 3 (1pm) SKY SPORTS
      Man City vs Man Utd – March 3 (3:30pm) SKY SPORTS
      Sheffield Utd vs Arsenal – March 4 8pm) SKY SPORTS More

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      Xabi Alonso ‘not interested in Bayern Munich, Liverpool or Real Madrid’ as World Cup winner predicts next move

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      XABI ALONSO is going to snub Liverpool, Bayern Munich AND Real Madrid – according to Germany legend Lothar Matthaus.Former Bayern star Matthaus would love Alonso to be the next boss of his old team, but reckons the Spaniard will spurn interest from a number of big clubs to stay for at least one more year at Bayer Leverkusen.
      Bayern Munich and Germany legend Lothar Matthaus believes Xabi Alonso is going nowhere this summerCredit: Getty
      Matthaus said: “His dream may be to one day coach Bayern, Liverpool or Real Madrid. But, in my opinion, he is not done at Leverkusen yet.
      “Xabi is not someone who gets carried away by big names, he has celebrated too many successes as a player for that. 
      “He, in addition, is not going to be guided by the economic aspect. What matters to him is what he has built and who he has built it with. 
      “He knows where he comes from and what he owes to others. That’s why I don’t think he’s going to sign for another club next season.”
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      Former Kop idol Alonso is believed to be Liverpool’s top choice to replace Jurgen Klopp when the German leaves Anfield at the end of the season.
      But another of the Spaniard’s former clubs, Bayern, are also in the market for a new head coach after confirming that Thomas Tuchel would be on his way this summer.
      And Real Madrid, another club that Alonso graced as one of the most stylish midfielders of his generation, have also been linked with him.
      Matthaus, who won seven Bundesliga titles with Bayern and the 1990 World Cup with West Germany, knows exactly where he would like Alonso to pitch up next.
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      Matthaus, 62, now a Sky Germany pundit, said: “As for the search for Tuchel’s successor, I would first like to say one thing: Xabi Alonso has to top Bayern’s list because of his resume, his authority and his successful work at Leverkusen. 
      “I can’t think of any coach in Europe or the world who fits Bayern Munich better than Xabi Alonso.
      Xabi Alonso and De Zerbi are two names who could replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in the summer
      “But Alonso is focused on Bayer Leverkusen and I think that is good. Xabi Alonso is not yet interested in Bayern Munich, nor in Liverpool or Real Madrid. 
      “He is only interested in winning three titles with Leverkusen in the next two and a half months.
      “The way he was a player, he is the same now as a coach.
      “He is true to his character. The stories that are unfolding now and in the coming weeks and months don’t matter to him. 
      “He has no pressure and can take things easy.” More

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      Sam Allardyce offers to ‘fly back from Dubai tomorrow’ to replace Mauricio Pochettino as Chelsea manager

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      SAM ALLARDYCE has offered to “fly back from Dubai tomorrow” to take over at Chelsea.That’s after a Chelsea fan demanded the former England boss replaced Mauricio Pochettino on a radio phone-in.
      Allardyce has offered to save Chelsea’s seasonCredit: AFP
      Poch is coming under huge pressure from fans after losing the Carabao Cup final 1-0 to Liverpool on Sunday – despite Jurgen Klopp fielding a makeshift side.
      The Blues are currently 11th in the league and cut adrift from the European places.
      Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth round tie against Leeds represents Pochettino’s last chance to salvage Chelsea’s season – with his job security looking shaky should he be knocked out.
      Allardyce hasn’t worked since his brief four game stint with Leeds at the end of last season and has since been living in the Middle East.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      When asked if he’d take on the Chelsea job should Pochettino be sacked, Allardyce said: “Oh yes, I’d fly back from Dubai tomorrow for that – get me there!,” he joked to talkSPORT Breakfast.
      He said the first thing he’d do as Blues boss would be to “sort the defence out.
      “It’s the worst defending I’ve seen in the Premier League for a long, long time.
      “People see that as a negative punt. There’s a big thing on Monday Night Football about Manchester United and how many shots they’ve conceded and then looking at the top teams like Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal.
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      “They have the best defensive records. It’s a simple mathematical equation. You win the league if you have the best defence not the best attack.
      “The best attack gives you the opportunity to get the points in the end but the defensive side of it wins you the league.
      Sam Allardyce and Jay-Jay Okocha recreate dance from 2003 in Bolton charity match
      “The defending has been ignored for many years now and I’ve never seen such bad defending for a long time.”
      The former manager continued to say that the general level of defending in the Premier League isn’t up to standard and said: “Considering the quality of the Premier League and the money that’s spent, the quality of defending in the Premier League is worse or has been bad for the last two or three years, so I actually question the coaching these days.
      “There’s such a big emphasis on the quality of football and playing the right way, that people seem to have shunned one of the most important things and that is when you haven’t got the ball, you have to be good at winning it back.” More

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      Man Utd legend Sir Alex Ferguson brutally threatened to send me back to France – my error wasn’t even the worst!

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      MANCHESTER UNITED hero Mikael Silvestre has opened up about the most unforgettable Hairdryer Treatment he received from legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson.And he fell victim to Ferguson’s famous temper despite a team-mate committing one of the most unforgettable goalkeeping blunders in Premier League history on the same day.
      Manchester United hero Mikael Silvestre experienced Sir Alex Ferguson’s Hairdryer TreatmentCredit: Getty
      Silvestre was slammed after Man Utd’s 3-3 draw with Southampton in 1999Credit: Getty
      Ferguson warned Silvestre he would send him back to FranceCredit: PA:Press Association
      Sir Alex is known as one of the best managers in the history of football, but the United great is also notorious for his dressing room blowups that brought chills down every player’s spine.
      It didn’t take long for Silvestre to get acquainted with Fergie’s backstage bashing as it took place in his third ever Prem match in 1999 shortly after he joined the Red Devils from Inter Milan.
      The former left-back started against Southampton at Old Trafford and saw his team leading 3-2.
      But then the ex-France international was dispossessed just outside his penalty box in the 73rd minute by Marians Pahars who set Matt Le Tissier up for the equaliser.
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      Ferguson was so furious with Silvestre at full-time that his face turned blood red as he lashed out at him in the dressing room.
      The Scottish gaffer also warned his defender to never commit the same gaffe or he would send him “back to France”.
      That was despite the fact United keeper Massimo Taibi allowed Saints back into the game by fumbling Le Tissier’s shot in a highly memorable gaffe. The stopper allowed the ball to through his arms and legs just minutes before Silvestre’s mistake.
      Silvestre told SunSport on behalf of Betting Expert: “It’s always the first one, it’s the first one you remember cause it takes you by surprise.
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      “I didn’t wait long, it was a home game against Southampton. I recovered the ball 35m or 40m from our goal and straight away after I lost it Southampton equalised.
      EXCLUSIVE: I felt full force of Fergie’s hairdryer at Man Utd… he told me to sell my house and leave during Liverpool horror show
      “So we drew at home and my mistake led to Sir Alex being extremely angry and telling me that it was the first time and the last time otherwise he would send me back to France.
      “That was super loud and his face became red – super angry at me, which was normal but very intense.”
      Silvestre took Ferguson’s warning on board as he went on to amass 10 goals and 20 assists in 361 appearances.
      The now 46-year-old also won five Premier League titles, the 2004 FA Cup and the 2008 Champions League throughout his nine-year stint at Old Trafford.
      Silvestre was slammed on the same day Massimo Taibi dropped his famous clangerCredit: AFP – Getty
      Silvestre went on to become one of Man Utd’s most famous playersCredit: Getty More

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      Premier League TV games for April revealed including Man Utd’s monster clash vs Liverpool at bizarre time

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      MANCHESTER UNITED’s clash with Liverpool is amongst the Premier League fixtures chosen for live TV coverage in April.However, the highly-anticipated contest has been given a bizarre kick-off time.
      Manchester United vs Liverpool has been given a bizarre kick-off timeCredit: Rex
      Sky Sports have selected the match for live broadcast on Sunday April 7.
      The Reds will visit Old Trafford at 3.30pm, though, instead of the usual 2pm or 4.30pm Sunday kick-off times.
      Liverpool and United played out a goalless draw at Anfield back in December.
      In total, 17 matches have been chosen for TV between April 2 and 15, including a bumper line-up of midweek action on TNT Sports.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Eight fixtures will be shown live, with West Ham hosting Tottenham at 8.15pm on April 2.
      Manchester City vs Aston Villa is one of three games being broadcast on April 3, whilst United’s trip to Chelsea the following day is also live.
      Sheffield United vs Chelsea has not been chosen for live coverage but has been moved to 1.30pm on April 7, due to both sides playing on April 4.
      Liverpool welcome the Blades to Anfield, also live on TNT Sports.
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      Premier League April TV games
      Newcastle vs Everton, April 2, 7.30pm (TNT Sports)
      Nottingham Forest vs Fulham, April 2, 7.30pm (TNT Sports)
      West Ham vs Tottenham, April 2, 8.15pm (TNT Sports)
      Arsenal vs Luton, April 3, 7.30pm (TNT Sports)
      Brentford vs Brighton, April 3, 7.30pm (TNT Sports)
      Man City vs Aston Villa, April 3, 8.15pm (TNT Sports)
      Liverpool vs Sheffield United, April 4, 7.30pm (TNT Sports)
      Chelsea vs Man Utd, April 4, 8.15pm (TNT Sports)
      Crystal Palace vs Man City, April 6, 12.30pm (TNT Sports)
      Brighton vs Arsenal, April 6, 5.30pm (Sky Sports)
      Man Utd vs Liverpool, April 7, 3.30pm (Sky Sports)
      Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest, April 8, 8pm (Sky Sports)
      Newcastle vs Tottenham, April 13, 12.30pm (TNT Sports)
      Arsenal vs Aston Villa, April 13, 5.30pm (Sky Sports)*
      Liverpool vs Crystal Palace, April 14, 2pm (Sky Sports)
      Bournemouth vs Man Utd, April 14, 4.30pm (Sky Sports)**
      Chelsea vs Everton, April 15, 8pm (Sky Sports)
      * Could move due to European match
      ** Could move to April 13 at 5.30pm if Arsenal vs Aston Villa moved

      The Red Devils have had three matches selected in total, although their away clash with Bournemouth could still be moved again.
      Currently scheduled for 4.30pm on April 14 live on Sky Sports, the match will be switched to 5.30pm the day before Arsenal vs Villa needs to move.
      That match currently occupies the slot but both sides could be in European action during midweek, potentially forcing it to be re-arranged.
      Gary Neville reveals surprise clash had ‘best atmosphere I’ve ever seen in my life’ – and it wasn’t at Old Trafford
      Elsewhere on April 13, Newcastle host Spurs on TNT Sports at 12.30pm.

      Sky Sports will also show Liverpool vs Crystal Palace at 2pm on April 14 and Chelsea vs Everton at 8pm on April 15.
      The TV selections for the remaining fixtures in April will be announced in due course, the Premier League have confirmed. More

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      Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi’s summer release clause ‘revealed’ as Barcelona and Bayern Munich circle

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      INTERESTED parties will have to fork out Roberto De Zerbi’s release clause this summer if they want to prise the Italian from Brighton.De Zerbi, 44, replaced Graham Potter as Seagulls boss in September 2022.
      Roberto De Zerbi has attracted plenty of interestCredit: PA
      He has gone on to excel on the South Coast, guiding his side to a sixth place finish last season.
      His exceptional work has seen him attract strong interest from Barcelona, with Xavi set to leave at the end of the season.
      Reports in Spain have described De Zerbi as Barca’s “chosen one” – and claim that meetings have already taken place between his agents and the Catalan club’s sporting director Deco.
      De Zerbi is under contract at Brighton until June 2026 and won’t come cheap.
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      The Seagulls are set to demand that his £12.8million release clause be paid in full, should a club want to appoint their manager.
      According to Spanish paper Sport this is proving to be a stumbling block for Barca, with the skint LaLiga champions not wanting to pay at all.
      Even if Barcelona cannot get De Zerbi, the Italian also has admirers at Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
      Both Bayern and the Reds, like Barcelona, are set to hire new bosses at the end of the season – with Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp leaving their respective posts.
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      Xabi Alonso has emerged as a strong candidate for both clubs, having played for them with distinction.
      The Bayer Leverkusen boss is working wonders in the Bundesliga and currently leads Tuchel’s Bayern by eight points in the table.
      Top 10 highest paid footballers in the world revealed with no Premier League players making the top five
      With Alonso so hotly in demand, De Zerbi could emerge as a potential back-up plan for whoever does not manage to appoint the Spaniard.
      Brighton currently sit seventh in the Premier League, and will face Roma in the Europa League round of 16 next month.
      Speaking to Sky Sports, De Zerbi recently suggested that he has unfinished business with the Seagulls.
      He said: “We feel we can write another part of Brighton’s history.
      “When I hear that big teams are interested in me it is an honour. I am proud, but my focus is on my work day-by-day.”
      He does have an eye on future projects, however, adding: “I would like in my career to compete to win the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Champions League but there isn’t a time when you have to go and compete, or to wait some more time.”
      On a team that holds a particular place in his heart, he added: “Milan for me is not a normal club because as a player I was born in AC Milan.
      “For my life I will always be grateful for Milan. I love my country, I love Italy, I love Italian football.
      “For sure one of my targets is to go back and work in my country, but I don’t know when is the time.”
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Brighton will be back in action tomorrow, when they face Wolves at Molineux for a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
      On Saturday they return to Premier League duties with a trip to Fulham.
      Xavi is one of many high-profile managers to be leaving at the end of the seasonCredit: Getty More

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      Chelsea blow as Christopher Nkunku suffers mystery injury with Pochettino admitting ‘he is not the same player’

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      CHELSEA have been struck with a double blow when it comes to Christopher Nkunku.That’s after Mauricio Pochettino confirmed that not only is the forward out for up to a month, but that “he is not the same player” that they signed.
      A frustrated Pochettino has admitted that Nkunku is ‘not the same player’Credit: Rex
      He does not know when or where the forward suffered the injuryCredit: Rex
      Chelsea signed Nkunku for £52million this summer after agreeing the deal with RB Leipzig last January.
      Nkunku was brought in to high expectations having scored 16 goals and assisted six times in 26 Bundesliga appearances last season.
      But, after shining in pre-season for the Blues, the forward suffered a serious knee injury on the eve of the Premier League season.
      That’s seen him make just 10 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea this season.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      The forward came off the bench in the 67th minute as Chelsea lost the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool on Sunday.
      Pochettino confirmed that the player suffered another injury during the game, despite him not being withdrawn after being subbed on.
      The Chelsea boss said: “We heard yesterday that Chris Nkunku got injured, but we don’t know when he got injured.
      “He’s undergoing medical assessment”.
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      He then admitted to fearing the player is not the same as when he signed “It’s difficult for him. We watched him when he arrived in pre-season.
      “He was flying on the training pitch until he got injured. Now it is nearly eight months and he has been involved again but it is not the same player as before.
      Astrid Wett breaks down in tears at Wembley after Chelsea lose Carabao Cup final and fumes ‘it’s a scam
      “We have in our head the amazing Nkunku from pre-season but it is not the same player because of the circumstances. That’s why it is sometimes unfair when we judge.” More

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      ‘Some are very subjective’ – Ten Hag fires brutal jibe at Jamie Carragher after Man Utd criticism on Sky Sports

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      ERIK TEN HAG has hit back at Jamie Carragher for his criticism of Manchester United – and suggested he has a bias against them.The leading pundit took the Red Devils to pieces with his assessment of their defeat to Fulham on Sky’s Monday Night Football show.
      Erik ten Hag hit back at Jamie Carragher for his criticism of Manchester UnitedCredit: X formerly Twitter / @SkySportsNews
      Carragher took the Red Devils to pieces after defeat to FulhamCredit: Rex
      “Some analysts are very objective in their comments, some are very subjective – Jamie Carragher is one of them” 🗯️Erik ten Hag has hit out at Jamie Carragher’s analysis of Man Utd’s defeat to Fulham 🔴🗣️ pic.twitter.com/0QFMDyrmyn— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 27, 2024

      Carragher said: “Twenty seconds into the game against Fulham, it’s been the problem for Manchester United all season, there’s space between the back four and the midfield.
      “We go to the reason why they’re poor defensively and can’t cope with counter-attacks, they’ve got no pace at the back and a lack of legs in midfield.
      “People say: ‘there’s no patterns of play at Manchester United, how do they play and what’s the philosophy?’. ”
      But Ten Hag says the former Liverpool Champions League winner has been against United from the start and is not objective in his view points.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      Ten Hag said: “First of all, some analysts are very objective in their comments, very good advice, some are very subjective.
      “Jamie Carragher from the first moment on has criticised and now he wants to make his point.”
      Yet the under-fire United boss went on to agree with some of Carragher’s assessment, particularly in how United began Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat.
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      He said: “Probably in the first half an hour, yeah, he had a point.
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      “The way Fulham set up their midfield was a surprise and then we have to find the solutions.
      “After half an hour we found the solutions.”
      ‘How is he our captain’ moan Man Utd fans as Bruno Fernandes spotted furiously arguing with referee after Fulham loss
      But Ten Hag even admitted that his team had lacked the necessary “passion” in the first half.
      He added: “I was not pleased with the performance with the defending, especially on the left side, how we did the pressing because they came out.
      “Especially in the first half an hour, several times on the left side and that can’t happen and that has to do with willingness, spirit, passion.
      “That was, in the previous weeks, very good for this team and therefore, we won football games.
      “I know footballers are not robots, sometimes they have bad days. But it can’t be, it’s unacceptable, we have to do better tomorrow but in the weeks before we have done very well.”
      United take on Nottingham Forest on Wednesday in an FA Cup fifth round encounter at the City Ground. More