Why is there only one Premier League match on Sunday?

Published4 hours ago

Unlike many Premier League weekends this season, there will be no 14:00 GMT kick-off this Sunday.

The time slot is one of the most frequently used in a typical Premier League weekend programme.

There is usually at least one match at 14:00 each Sunday - and this season there have at times been more, which is a knock-on effect of four Premier League clubs competing in the Europa League and Conference League on a Thursday evening. Teams usually want at least two clear days between games.

Last weekend, four matches were played early on Sunday, and only two fixtures kicked off in the traditional Saturday 15:00 slot.

In contrast, this weekend will feature five games at 15:00 on Saturday, and only one on Sunday - Liverpool taking on Arsenal at 16:30.

There will also be kick-offs at 12:30, 17:30 and 20:00 on Saturday, and finally at 20:00 on Monday.

The absence of an early Sunday game is because of Aston Villa's involvement in this season's Champions League.

Villa's meeting with Fulham at Villa Park was the designated 14:00 match for Sunday afternoon.

But because Unai Emery's Villa side have a Champions League match at Barcelona two days later - on Tuesday, 3 November - the Fulham game has been brought forward to 20:00 on Saturday.

As Sky Sports was due to show the match in its initial slot, the broadcaster will also show the rearranged game.

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What are this weekend's Premier League fixtures?

Saturday, 31 October

Chelsea v Manchester United (12:30)

Chelsea v Manchester United (12:30)

Bournemouth v Leeds United (15:00)

Bournemouth v Leeds United (15:00)

Brentford v Nottingham Forest (15:00)

Brentford v Nottingham Forest (15:00)

Coventry City v Sunderland (15:00)

Coventry City v Sunderland (15:00)

Hull City v Ipswich (15:00)

Hull City v Ipswich (15:00)

Manchester City v Brighton & Hove Albion (15:00)

Manchester City v Brighton & Hove Albion (15:00)

Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace (17:30)

Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace (17:30)

Aston Villa v Fulham (20:00)

Aston Villa v Fulham (20:00)

Sunday, 1 November

Liverpool v Arsenal (16:30)

Liverpool v Arsenal (16:30)

Monday, 2 November

Newcastle United v Everton (20:00)

Newcastle United v Everton (20:00)

All times in GMT

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UEFA Champions League

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