For many years the Premier League has had two distinct kickoff times on a Sunday: 2 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. local time. Yet this weekend will see three games take place — and not one of them will fill a traditional slot.
What’s worse for supporters is that two matches will get under way on Sunday evening, adding further complications for getting back home on public transport.
But why are the three games kicking off at such weird times? There’s three very different reasons, and for one game the schedulers had made an almighty error.
Manchester United vs. Liverpool, 3.30 p.m. UK (10.30 a.m. ET)
Original planned kickoff time: 4.30 p.m. (11.30 a.m. ET)
It’s the flagship for the English top flight late on Sunday afternoon, broadcast on Sky Sports. The biggest game of the weekend is usually selected in this slot, but this season a problem has emerged.
The local authorities, mainly the police, have started to take issue with the 4.30 p.m. slot. But games aren’t being brought forward to lunchtime, they are being brought forward by 45 minutes or an hour. Hardly seems worth it, right?
The FA Cup tie between the teams at Old Trafford on March 17 also kicked off at 3.30 p.m., while other games have also been forced to edge forward a little.
When Liverpool took on Manchester City in their top-of-the-table clash on March 10, Merseyside Police decreed that the game must kick off at 3.45 p.m. A week earlier, the Manchester derby started at 3.30 p.m.
It seems Manchester City vs. Arsenal wasn’t seen as problematic, however, with last week’s big match allowed to kick off at 4.30 p.m.
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