Liverpool fixture given new kick-off time for TV coverage…but it could be rescheduled again

With Villa facing Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals of that competition, the Garibaldi’s Premier League match away to Manchester United is also subject to the same change, depending on which team progresses to the Europa League decider.

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Liverpool fans kept waiting for full confirmation

While it’s understandable that the English top flight would seek to give its representatives in a European final as vast a preparation window as possible – which they did for Tottenham Hotspur and Man United last year – the uncertainty over the Villa fixture isn’t ideal for Liverpool.

Reds fans making plans for the game – especially those travelling to the match itself – won’t know for certain until the late hours of Thursday 7 May whether or not the fixture will remain on the Sunday lunchtime of the following weekend, or be brought forward to the Friday night.

Therefore, it could be a mere eight days prior to the match that the date for it is finally confirmed once and for all, which’d no doubt be a massive headache for away supporters.

On a brighter note, if Liverpool can at least preserve the eight-point gap to sixth place by the time they travel to Villa Park, they’ll go there with Champions League qualification already secured, a luxury which seemed unthinkable even a month ago.

A win over Emery’s side – who may well be distracted by a European final and have their own Champions League place guaranteed by then – could potentially ensure that the Reds finish no lower than fourth in the table, depending on the teams’ respective results in the meantime.