This weekend’s two Premier League games will be played at the unusual kick-off time of 7pm on Sunday.
chelsea v brentford and southampton v tottenham hotspur Both games will kick off after the Manchester derby at the more familiar time of 4.30pm.
It is the third weekend in a row that there will be no 12.30pm kick-off, following the postponement of last Saturday’s Merseyside derby. Premier League.
European commitments change Premier League time slots
Chelsea and Tottenham both play European matches on Thursday, meaning neither will be available for Premier League action on Saturday. But there are different reasons behind moving into the rare 7pm slot.
The Blues face a long journey home from Kazakhstan after finishing the game conference alliance The match against Astana kicks off at 3.30pm on Thursday and Chelsea fans can watch at home. A later start to the Premier League will provide them with more recovery time after their efforts in Europe.
Tottenham haven’t gone that far european league Game this week. Glasgow is their destination for an 8pm kick-off rangers. It will be a special occasion for controversial former Celtics coach Anj Postkoglu, but it will also have a knock-on effect for fans.
Postecoglou’s side were due to kick off at 2pm on Sunday, but TNT Sports has opted to show Tottenham Hotspur’s match against struggling Southampton this weekend.
Sunday’s second game at 7pm is Tottenham’s pure Premier League ticket price.
They were unable to play in Saturday’s lunchtime slot on TNT Sports, so the game against Southampton was moved to Sunday. TNT is unable to clash with Sky Sports’ Sunday 2pm and 4.30pm slots, so they will slide to the next available time, with a 7pm kick-off at St Mary’s Stadium.
The simple logic of teams’ travel requirements, recovery times and TV schedules will be of little comfort to supporters watching, who face the unpleasant prospect of traveling to and from a Premier League match on Sunday night.
Manchester United and fulham It will be held on Sunday, January 26 at 7pm. United host Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday, with TNT Sports picking that weekend’s trip to Craven Cottage.
The possibility of a 12pm kick-off on Sunday has been rejected by United, who feel it would not allow for the recovery time needed.
Since 2pm and 4.30pm are no longer possible, 7pm is the inevitable outcome. There are no train timetables from London to Manchester after the game.
Most Chelsea and Brentford fans probably won’t be inconvenienced by the fact that the clubs are so close and have access to the London Football League, but supporters traveling further afield to Southampton – or from Manchester to London and back – won’t appreciate it week in and week out. The added complexity of traveling day and night.
