Manchester United's clash with rivals Liverpool will kick off in a late slot after the Premier League's 'sweetener' to police.
But Sunday's high risk fixture starts half an hour earlier than TV bosses wanted amid concerns from the local force.
Mail Sport revealed in January the competition was to pay various constabularies around £7million in what some viewed as a not-so-discreet attempt to allow big matches to take place in the more lucrative later broadcast slots.
And the gift, which league officials say was made as a 'thank you' rather than to facilitate kick-off times, appears to have done the trick.