Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Keifer MacDonald

Why there are only three Premier League games today as Everton and Liverpool decisions explained

Both Everton and Liverpool are back in action during the May bank holiday - but neither side will be playing on Saturday afternoon with just three Premier League fixtures scheduled.

Eagle-eyed viewers looking to settle in front of the television on Saturday afternoon for extensive top-flight coverage will be in for a surprise when the early kick-off between Crystal Palace and West Ham is followed by just two 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League and no 5:30 kick-off.

On Merseyside, Liverpool welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Anfield on Sunday as they look to keep alive their faint hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League. Everton, meanwhile, travel to the East Midlands to face relegation foes Leicester City on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football slot.

READ MORE: Ryan Mason confirms key Tottenham Hotspur player will miss Liverpool game as four others sidelined

READ MORE: Everton enter darkest hour and there's nothing more let-down, fed-up fans can do

Sunday will see the Reds involved in one of five Premier League games, with Bournemouth, Fulham, Manchester United and Newcastle all too on hosting duties. This particular round of fixtures is finally rounded off on Tuesday night at the Emirates when Arsenal host Chelsea.

But why are none of the seven games from Sunday, Monday or Tuesday spread more evenly across Saturday afternoon?

Well, while the Premier League are yet to officially explain their reasoning behind the top-heavy scheduling, it can only be assumed that the recent set of midweek fixtures between Tuesday and Thursday has impacted which teams can play again on Saturday.

While Liverpool's opponents from Wednesday night, West Ham, travel to Selhurst Park on Saturday morning, Jurgen Klopp's side were unable to be assigned a same day slot due to their upcoming opponents Tottenham Hotspur having played against Manchester United as recently as Thursday night.

The same can be said about Everton's trip to Leicester City, with the Blues playing in a 4-1 thrashing to Newcastle United on Thursday evening at Goodison Park and therefore unable to return to Premier League duties roughly 48 hours later.

Manchester City's visit to Fulham on Sunday afternoon appears to be the only game that could have potentially been moved to one of the vacant slots, with Marco Silva's side having played against Aston Villa last Tuesday. Meanwhile, Guardiola's treble-chasing outfit defeated Arsenal in their top-of-the-table clash at the Etihad 24 hours later.

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.