Why Manchester United vs Everton has been given unique kick-off time this weekend as Ruben Amorim's first Premier League home clash moved

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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim will have to readjust his schedule for his first Premier League home match this weekend.

The new Red Devils boss is hoping to claim all three points in the English top-flight against Everton but at an earlier time than usual.

Amorim’s first taste of Premier League football got underway at the standard 4:30pm slot last Sunday as United drew at Ipswich Town.

His new team’s Europa League commitments mean he will once again be involved towards the latter stages of the weekend.

However, the Portuguese will be facing Sean Dyche’s Everton at a slightly odd time.

Man United vs Everton: Kick-off time

This match is scheduled to get underway on Sunday, December 1 at 1:30pm.

This is half an hour earlier than the typical early Sunday slot for a Premier League fixture.

No official reasoning was given when the game was chosen for television coverage in September.

However, it is most likely to move it in line with the Liverpool vs Man City showdown that will follows and kick-off at 4pm.

That Premier League top-of-the-table blockbuster has become a high-risk fixture for Merseyside Police over fan safety concerns.

Some of the issues between supporters have included damage to team buses, missiles thrown and cases of tragedy chanting.

To avoid a crossover between games that would split Sky Sports’ viewership, the first Sunday offering will also start earlier.

United against Everton is not being televised in the UK, however, it involves both a club from Manchester and Merseyside.

Their usual kick-off time of 2pm would heighten the risk of multiple sets of rival fans travelling to and from the same area at staggered times – which increases the strain on police resources.

This is likely the same reasoning behind the other non-televised Premier League match that will kick-off at 1:30pm on Sunday.

Chelsea against Aston Villa is being screened by Sky, with their west London neighbours Fulham playing capital rivals Tottenham.

Historically, United against Everton has also involved clashes with supporters that have necessitated subsequent kick-off time tweaks.

The Toffee’s 1-0 win over the Red Devils in a 2005 FA Cup game gave birth to the ‘Battle of Everton Valley’ – still considered one of the worst incidents of football hooliganism in Merseyside history.

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