Sky Sport’s Super Sunday has been a staple of football house holds for years since it’s inception all the way back in 1992.
So often fans have been able to settle in for one kick-off at 2pm and then another at 4:30pm just in time for tea.
But over the course of the last two seasons we have seen Sunday’s kick-off times change drastically.
That is certainly the case for the upcoming action this weekend with the first match on Sunday between Manchester United and Liverpool kicking off at 3pm.
Following that, Chelsea’s trip to Bramall Lane to take on Sheffield United is set to kick-off at 5:30pm with Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest getting underway at 6pm.
Liverpoo’s trip to Manchester United is set to kick off at 3:30pm
Chelsea will travel to Sheffield United for a 5:30pm kick-off due to the Sheffield Half Marathon
Tottenham’s match with Nottingham Forest, originally scheduled for Monday Night will now get underway at 6pm on Sunday
It may make for confusing reading for fans hoping to catch their team on TV over the weekend but there is a reason for the strange start times.
Firstly Tottenham’s trip to the City Ground was moved from it’s original Monday Night Football slot due to train strikes, leaving the travelling fans with no transportation from London to Nottingham.
Sheffield United have then had to move their match with Chelsea from 1pm to 5:30pm due to the Sheffield Half Marathon taking place on Sunday morning and it goes right past the stadium.
The good news for the travelling fans is that they will be able to get home via the train following their clash.
As noted before, there has been a general shift away from the traditional 2pm and 4:30pm kick-off slots and this is for a number of reasons.
The Sheffield Half Marathon has seen Sheffield United’s match with Chelsea moved to 5:30pm from 1pm
Train strikes on Monday forced Nottingham Forest’s tie with Tottenham to move to Sunday
The times of matches are decided between the TV companies, police, the clubs involved and Premier League officials. Though the Safety Advisory Group have the final say based on the safety of match-going fans.
An hour’s less time drinking outside of the stadium may have an impact on the trouble within stadiums but police have taken a stricter approach following the Casey Report into crowd trouble at the Euro 2021 final.
This has led to a number of compromises with games being moved to 3:30pm where they would usuall be the prime time game on the Sunday.
But in some cases match that may be perceived to be the biggest of the weekend has also been moved to the earlier 2pm slot, as is the case with the North London derby on April 28.
