Fixture change could benefit Champions League clubs

THE Premier League has confirmed that teams competing in the Champions League next season will no longer have early kick-offs the following weekend, writes Amie Wilson.

BT Sport have had the Saturday 12.30pm slot this season, but that will now change to 7.45pm on the same day for any teams who have played a Champions League fixture on a Wednesday night. Leicester City are currently on track to qualify for the Champions League next season.

The announcement from the Premier League followed the extension of its £4.7 billion league TV rights deal with Sky Sports, BT Sport, BBC Sport and Amazon Prime for a further three years.

Premier League chief executive

Richard Masters said: “We would like to express our gratitude to our broadcast partners for their continued commitment to the Premier League and support for the football pyramid.

“Covid-19 has had a significant impact on football, and renewals with our UK broadcast partners will reduce uncertainty, generate stability and promote confidence within the football pyramid.”

Much has been made of teams who are competing in European competition having an early kick-off just three days later.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been outspoken about the issue.

“If you don’t start talking to BT, we are all done,” he told Sky Sports after a fixture back in November.

“Sky and BT have to talk. If we keep playing on Wednesday and Saturday 12.30 I am not sure if we will finish the season with 11 players.”

With Liverpool one of the clubs chasing a Champions League place at the end of the season, City will be hoping that it impacts them more than the Reds next season.