The Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool on Feb. 7 will have an early evening kick-off despite police and council objections, the Premier League has ruled.
Liverpool City Council had asked for an earlier start time for the match, which will start at 5.30 p.m. GMT.
That request came after Merseyside Police raised concerns about an increased risk of crowd disorder as a result of the match beginning so late on a Saturday.
But the Premier League has confirmed to the media that the match will kick off at 5.30.
The league shifted the kick-off time back from 3 p.m. so that it could be shown live in the UK by Sky Sports. Matches kicking off at 3 p.m. on a Saturday cannot be televised live in England during the domestic season, a rule designed to protect attendances at games across the country.
Merseyside Police raised objections about the late kick-off time in December, saying that weekend matches between Everton and Liverpool should start no later than 1.30 p.m.
That was because of concerns that the late start would give fans more time to drink alcohol before the game -- allegedly leading to an increased risk of trouble.
But a police report to Liverpool Council's licensing committee at the time stressed that there was no specific intelligence indicating any organised trouble was planned, while Everton confirmed they were able to stage the game with a late kick-off.