Why is there no 12:30pm kick-off this Saturday? Premier League schedule changed amid strange start times

Premier League fans will be forced to wait a few hours longer to get their football fix this weekend.

Typically on a Saturday afternoon, top-flight action starts at 12:30pm, with games following at 3pm, 5:30pm and sometimes 8pm.

However, that's not the case this weekend as there has been some changes to the broadcasting schedule.

And here, talkSPORT.com takes a look at why...

Why is there no 12:30pm kick-off?

There will be no early kick-off this Saturday due to there not being a game selected for broadcast.

TNT Sports usually show the 12:30pm games in the Premier League as part of their exclusive package.

Their deal grants them access to air 52 games a season, which are divided by Saturday lunchtime and two rounds of midweek fixtures.

However, also as part of that package, they also have to pick four blank weekends throughout the season.

This was the case last campaign too, with a few 12:30pm slots left empty throughout the year.

Sometimes, early kick-offs are rescheduled to a later date and time, but that isn't the case here.

It seems this weekend has been chosen to be blank, and that is likely down to the fact that their are less fixtures, with Liverpool, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace having their games rearranged.

They have now league game due to Liverpool facing Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday afternoon, live on talkSPORT.

The absence of an early start this weekend comes amid some other strange changes to the schedule too.

There are four 3pm kick-offs on Saturday and a 5:30pm.

However, on Sunday, we have two games starting at the earlier time of 1:30pm and then another at the unique slot of 7pm.

Arsenal face Chelsea and Fulham host Spurs at 1:30pm and it's Leicester taking on Manchester United at 7pm.

Again, these changes have been made to accommodate the Carabao Cup final between Liverpool and Newcastle.

The two Premier League sides meet at Wembley on Sunday at 4:30pm in what should be a thriller.

The Carabao Cup showpiece will be live on talkSPORT while coverage of Saturday's fixtures will also be available.

Adrian Durham will host GameDay Live with Troy Deeney, Micky Gray and Alvin Martin as all the goals go in around the grounds.

We will also have exclusive coverage of Man City vs Brighton on talkSPORT 2 at the same time.

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