Why is Fulham vs Man Utd a Sunday 7pm kick-off? Premier League change explained
Why is Fulham vs Man Utd a Sunday 7pm kick-off? Premier League change explained
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Manchester United and Fulham are due to face off at Craven Cottage on Sunday, and the game will kick-off at a time not especially familiar to Premier League match-goers. The two teams will face off on Sunday, with the match kicking off at 7pm. By the time the match gets underway, the other 18 Premier League teams will all have played their weekend fixtures.
United and Fulham were also involved in the final match of the opening game week of the season. On that occasion, the Manchester club left it late to snatch all three points, with Joshua Zirkzee the match-winner on his Premier League debut. Since then, the clubs' fortunes have reversed. Fulham have spent much of the campaign in the top half, currently occupying 10th spot, but United are down in 13th after a tough season which saw Erik ten Hag sacked in October.
In short, the match has been given its kick-off time because it has been chosen for TV by TNT Sports. The broadcaster's traditional slot of 12.30pm on a Saturday cannot be used, with United having played in the Europa League on Thursday night. With Sky Sports showing matches at 2pm and 4.30pm on Sunday, TNT have been unable to schedule a clash. A 12pm Sunday kick-off had been floated, but this was deemed too close to the finish of United's Thursday night victory over Rangers.
