Pep Guardiola jokingly asks Jurgen Klopp not to blame Man City for Liverpool kick-off time

Pep Guardiola has jokingly asked that Manchester City not be blamed for the early kick-off time of Saturday's match with Liverpool.

The two heavyweights will get the Premier League back under way on Saturday afternoon following the international break. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has repeatedly voiced his frustrations over the number of times Liverpool have played in the 12:30pm slot on a Saturday and isn't best pleased his side have been selected for the kick-off time once again this weekend.

This time around, the fixture has been scheduled for an early kick-off to mitigate potential risks of fan trouble upon the recommendation from the local safety advisor group. Recent fixtures between the two sides have been marred by disturbances, including last December when a 15-year-old girl was left 'scarred for life' after being struck by a pint glass weighed down by coins thrown from the Liverpool supporters' section during a Carabao Cup tie at the Etihad.

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When asked if he shared Klopp's misgivings over the early kick-off time, Guardiola expressed his sympathy but quipped he hopes City isn't blamed for it after the club has come under renewed scrutiny this week following Everton's 10-point deduction.

"I always have sympathy for Jurgen, what he says is right," Guardiola said. "He is defending his club. Please don't blame City for that as well! It depends on what time the players go to sleep. We will try and sleep early."

The Blues were hit with unprecedented charges by the Premier League in February, accused of more than 100 breaches of competition rules that include nearly a decade of