Man City’s punishments and Everton’s loss of points dominate, but an explosive undercurrent may erupt at Liverpool’s training complex.

At 1.30pm on Friday, Jurgen Klopp will address the media live to discuss Saturday’s trip to Manchester City.

With the top-of-the-table game taking place at the dreaded – and heavily criticized – 12.30pm kick-off time, the Reds will be looking to win at a ground they haven’t won at in the Premier League since the early days of Klopp’s reign, back in November 2015.

With Klopp a loud critic of the game’s time – and the fact that Sunday will be the Reds’ third early kick-off following the international break – it will be intriguing to see what the Liverpool manager has to say on the subject.

Everton’s deduction of points

The Premier League’s unusual decision to punish Everton 10 points for violating their Profit and Sustainability Rules has been the big football story of the past week.

Every manager in the league will almost certainly be questioned about the situation before the weekend’s games, and Klopp will be no exception. Given that such a punishment has been meted out to the Reds’ local rivals, it will add a further degree of suspense as to what Klopp will say, and Klopp has rarely answered questions directly during his tenure on Merseyside.

While Klopp will no doubt sympathize with counterpart Sean Dyche, whose team has been relegated through no fault of his own, the Reds manager’s statements will be scrutinized by both sets of supporters across the city and beyond.

However, sympathy may be in short supply at Anfield in general, given the local rivalry and, more specifically, the fact that owners Fenway Sports Group have always kept Liverpool running on a tight, risk-averse ship when it comes to spending, even if this has frustrated large swaths of the fanbase at numerous junctures during transfer windows. In any case, Klopp’s views will be fascinating to hear.

What about Man City?

Bleeding into doubts about Everton’s condition may be the long-term one that continues to consume Saturday’s opponents, Manchester City.

The current European and English champions face up to 115 Financial Fair Play allegations, and the subject has resurfaced this week in the aftermath of Everton’s shocking fine.

City’s claims cover the seasons 2009/10 to 2017/18, and the allegations are disputed, it should be noted. However, with no resolution in sight and Everton’s problems dominating the headlines, will Klopp be questioned about Man City’s own problem? After all, it is a case that affects Liverpool more than most other clubs in the Premier League.

The most recent injury is

Liverpool received two boosts this week regarding their left-back position, with Kostas Tsimikas declaring that his absence for Greece in midweek was not due to injury.

The defender merely sat out Greece’s match against France to avoid receiving a yellow card, which would have kept him out of the European Championships play-offs in March, so he is free to play this weekend.

That update came on the heels of Andy Robertson’s encouraging word about his own comeback. The Scotland skipper underwent surgery last month for a shoulder injury sustained while on duty for his team against Spain, and the improvement achieved should reassure supporters, even if he is far from ready to return.

In other news, an update on Stefan Bajcetic is possible, though Thiago Alcantara will be out for the weekend’s trip to the Etihad. Hopefully, that concludes the injury updates.

The South American quartet is crucial.

An update on Liverpool’s South American foursome of Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Alexis MacAllister, and Alisson Becker is also expected.

Liverpool have made extraordinary arrangements to ensure that all four return to Merseyside as soon as possible after their respective matches against Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina, and Brazil, with a private plane leased to get all four back in time for Saturday’s first-versus-second battle.

Nunez and Diaz, in particular, have had a good week or two, with five goals between them during the break assuring they should at least head to Manchester with their confidence levels sky high.

Nunez scored twice against Bolivia earlier this week after scoring twice in a 2-0 win over World Cup winners Argentina, while Diaz provided the feel-good story of the international round when his double against Brazil caused his father to cry in the stands after his recent ordeal as a hostage in his homeland.

The condition and availability of those two in particular will be crucial subplots, while a further report on Mac Allister will be provided given his own efforts over the last fortnight.

Rivalry inside the city

In recent years, Klopp’s press conferences for City games have become must-see television.

“I’m not sure we have to be best friends with other clubs, to be honest,” he said after Liverpool’s 1-0 triumph over City at Anfield last season, when his pre-match comments about their opponents’ financial power were met with skepticism at the Etihad.

“I’m not sure anyone wants to be best friends with us.” At the very least, I had never heard of it. It is entirely regular competition. Again, it started with a question, which I replied, and the rest was built up of it.

“I know what I was thinking when I said it, and I thought I put everything in perspective by saying how much I respect everything they’re doing.” Then it was definitely still not right for some!”

Both teams have taken admirable steps in the last year or so to alleviate simmering tensions, but there is no doubt that neither fanbase is, to paraphrase Klopp, “best friends” with the other.

While both managers have complete admiration and respect for each other and their respective squads, Liverpool and Manchester City have not made nice bedfellows in the last five years. Again, hearing Klopp speak on the matter will be fascinating.

Kick-off time

But possibly the most explosive storyline at the AXA Training Centre on Friday will be his newest reaction to the 12.30pm kick-off.

During Klopp’s now eight-year reign, no team has come close to the number of times the Reds have been forced to play in that slot immediately following the international break, and what is undoubtedly the most difficult away day of the season was made that much more difficult by the scheduling.

Klopp has already criticized the scheduling several times this season, remarking after a 3-0 win over Brentford earlier this month: “OK, no one can say at the moment, but how can you put a game like this on Saturday at 12.30pm?”

“To be honest, the people making the decisions cannot feel football; it is simply not possible.” Nobody has to inform us whether that is the moment when the world pays the most to watch a football game. I honestly don’t know if that’s the case.”