What’s Behind the 7 PM Sunday Kickoff for Two Premier League Matches?
This weekend, two Premier League matches are set to kick off at the unusual time of 7pm on Sunday.
Chelsea will host Brentford, while Southampton takes on Tottenham Hotspur. Both matches will commence following the conclusion of the Manchester derby, which is scheduled for the more typical 4.30pm start time.
Following the cancellation of last Saturday’s Merseyside derby, it marks the third consecutive weekend without a 12.30pm kick-off in the Premier League.
European commitments alter Premier League scheduling
Both Chelsea and Tottenham will have played in European competitions on Thursday, which prohibits them from participating in the Premier League on Saturday. However, the reasons for scheduling the rare 7pm kick-off differ.
The Blues will have a lengthy return journey from Kazakhstan after their Conference League match against Astana, which starts at 3.30pm local time for fans watching at home. The later Premier League kick-off will permit them additional recovery time following their European fixture.
In contrast, Spurs have a much shorter journey for their Europa League clash this week, heading to Glasgow for an 8pm match against Rangers. This match holds special significance for the former Celtic manager, Ange Postecoglou, who has come under scrutiny, but it also impacts fans.
Postecoglou’s squad would have typically played in the 2pm kick-off slot on Sunday; however, TNT Sports selected Tottenham’s match against struggling Southampton for live coverage this weekend.
The other 7pm fixture on Sunday arises from the fluctuating nature of Spurs, making them a sought-after draw in the Premier League.
They are unable to play in the Saturday lunchtime TNT Sports slot, prompting their game against Southampton to be shifted to Sunday. TNT cannot coincide with Sky Sports’ 2pm and 4.30pm slots on Sunday afternoon, necessitating a move to the next available time of 7pm at St Mary’s Stadium.
This straightforward reasoning behind team travel, recovery periods, and television scheduling, however, offers little comfort to match-going fans, who face the daunting task of attending a Premier League match late on a Sunday evening.
Manchester United and Fulham are scheduled to play at 7pm on Sunday, January 26. United will have hosted Rangers at home in the Europa League the preceding Thursday, and their visit to Craven Cottage has been selected for coverage by TNT Sports this weekend.
Manchester United rejected a potential 12pm kick-off on Sunday, citing insufficient recovery time.
With options for 2pm and 4.30pm ruled out, the 7pm kick-off became the only feasible choice. However, it’s worth noting that no train services are scheduled to depart London for Manchester after the match.
While many Chelsea and Brentford supporters may not experience as much inconvenience due to the closeness of the clubs and the accessibility of the TFL, fans traveling longer distances, such as those heading to Southampton or from Manchester to London and back, are likely to face added complexities associated with Sunday evening travel.
