Why next set of Premier League fixtures will look unusual to fans with traditional TV channels swapped

THE Premier League returns with a bang next weekend when Manchester City host Liverpool in a huge title race showdown.

However, football fans are at risk of getting caught out by scheduling changes.

The Times

Man City will host Liverpool at 12:30pm next Saturday[/caption]

Getty

Arsenal travel to face Brentford at 5:30pm[/caption]

City vs Liverpool was originally set to be broadcast on Sky Sports at 5:30pm next Saturday, but it has been moved forward to 12:30pm.

That means Brentford‘s clash with Arsenal, originally set to be shown on TNT Sports at lunchtime, has been pushed back to the evening slot.

Traditionally, TNT Sports will broadcast the first Premier League match of the day every Saturday while Sky Sports show the 5:30pm fixture.

However, that will change next week when Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp come face to face at 12:30pm on Sky Sports Premier League.

Brentford will then host Mikel Arteta‘s Arsenal later that evening – live on TNT Sports.

Why have the fixtures been swapped?

The two Premier League fixtures were swapped because a local safety advisory group in Manchester – which includes members of the police – were concerned about the prospect of an early evening kick-off.

There have been several issues with fan trouble and behaviour surrounding the fixture in the past, so Premier League chiefs made the decision to bring the match forward.

Amid concerns about fan safety at the Etihad Stadium, Liverpool’s ticket allocation was cut by 20 per cent from 3,000 seats to 2,400 last season.

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Last year a 15-year-old girl was left ‘scarred for life’ after being struck by a pot weighted with coins that had been thrown from the away section.

Liverpool chief executive Billy Hogan was subsequently forced to apologise to the family involved.