Football on UK TV Today: What to Watch and Why There's No 12:30 PM Premier League Game

Why There's No 12:30 PM Premier League Game

The lunchtime kick-off has become a beloved part of the Premier League schedule, but today, fans must wait until 3 PM for top-flight action. The reason is straightforward: no games were selected for TV.

Under the current Premier League broadcast agreement, TNT Sports holds the 12:30 PM slot every Saturday, but they only screen a total of 52 Premier League matches per season. Of these, 20 matches are aired during two midweek fixture rounds, leaving just 32 picks remaining. Consequently, with 36 more rounds of fixtures to come, TNT has designated four Saturdays as blank, including today.

Today's Matches

The teams are currently in varying forms. Sean Dyche's Everton is unbeaten in their last four Premier League matches, with two wins in their last three. In contrast, Fulham started the season brightly but has struggled recently, losing back-to-back games against Manchester City and Aston Villa. A victory for Fulham could see them surpass Tottenham and Newcastle in the standings, while a win for Everton would pull them level on points with Fulham, potentially moving them out of the relegation zone.

Championship Matches on TV

In the Championship, the standout televised game is Leeds United vs. Bristol City. Leeds, managed by Daniel Farke, sits third in the league, keen to avenge last season's play-off final defeat to Southampton. They have started well this season, winning six of their first 11 games. On the other hand, Bristol City has had a mixed start, with a record of three wins, six draws, and two losses, and they have struggled historically against Leeds, winning just once in their last 18 encounters.

Other Championship matches selected for TV today include Coventry City vs. Luton Town and Watford vs. Blackburn. Both Coventry and Luton have had poor starts, each suffering six defeats already this season. Meanwhile, Watford and Blackburn are closely matched, with only three points separating them as they both aim for a play-off spot.

Real Madrid vs. Barcelona

The day concludes with the first El Clasico of the season, as Real Madrid hosts Barcelona at the Bernabeu. Both clubs are vying for the top spot in La Liga, separated by just three points. Under Hansi Flick, Barcelona has had a stellar start, winning nine of ten league matches and demonstrating formidable strength in their 4-1 win against Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Real Madrid remains unbeaten but hasn't been as cohesive, especially with Kylian Mbappe's arrival complicating their attacking dynamics.

With so much football on offer today, fans are in for a treat, despite the unusual absence of a lunchtime kick-off.