Discover Why Premier League Games Are Starting at 2.05 PM Today and Why It’s More Common Than You Think
Football fans in the UK have noticed a shift in the typical kick-off times for Premier League games this Sunday. Instead of the usual schedule, three matches featuring Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest, Brighton & Hove Albion, West Ham United, and Liverpool are set to kick off at 2:05 PM. This change is linked to television broadcasting needs.
Understanding the 2:05 PM Kick-off Time
The recent adjustment stems from Crystal Palace’s match against Manchester United. Originally planned for Saturday, the game was moved to Sunday due to Palace’s commitments in the UEFA Conference League. This match will start at 12 PM and air on TNT Sports, creating a scheduling conflict with the standard 2 PM games.
With Sky Sports now airing every game during this slot, the scheduling required all three 2 PM fixtures to shift to 2:05 PM to avoid overlap with the earlier match. Both the Premier League and the clubs consented to this change.
History of the 2:05 PM Kick-off
The 2:05 PM start time is not entirely new. Historically, it has been used 46 times, exclusively on Sundays. The inaugural match at this time occurred in September 2010 when Aston Villa defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1. The most recent instance took place in May 2021, with Wolves losing 2-0 to Tottenham Hotspur.
This Sunday marks a notable achievement, as it is the first time that three Premier League matches will kick off simultaneously at 2:05 PM.
Notable Matches and Statistics
- The average number of goals in 2:05 PM games is 2.74.
- Only three matches have ended in a 0-0 draw during this time slot.
- Some memorable matches include a 6-0 victory by Liverpool over Aston Villa in February 2016 and a thrilling 4-2 comeback by Arsenal against Tottenham in December 2018.
Other Unusual Kick-off Times in the Premier League
Beyond the 2:05 PM slot, the Premier League has experimented with various kick-off times. One such instance is the 4:05 PM start, which has occurred 77 times, primarily to avoid clashes with earlier broadcasted games.
In recent seasons, 8:15 PM kick-offs have also become more frequent, particularly during midweek fixtures, to better accommodate television coverage.
Remarkably, the weekend of April 12-13, 2014, saw all matches kick off seven minutes late in remembrance of the Hillsborough disaster’s anniversary. Additionally, there have been unique situations, such as a 7:40 PM start in May 1995 and an 11:15 AM kick-off, which remains the earliest ever recorded.
Overall, the evolution of kick-off times in the Premier League reflects the growing influence of television scheduling on match timings, showcasing the balance between tradition and modern broadcasting needs.
