Following FA Cup action last weekend, the Premier League is back after a two week hiatus.
However, many fans will notice that there will not be any 3pm kick offs at all today. As well as that, league leaders Liverpool and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will not be involved this weekend.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool currently top the table and are currently three points ahead of Aston Villa – and five ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal.
Mail Sport breaks down why both teams will not be involved this weekend.
There will be no 3pm kick offs in the Premier League today, while Liverpool and Arsenal will not be involved at all this weekend
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have suffered from a dip in form as of late – winning one of their last five games
Why are there no 3pm games?
There will be no 3pm games today due to the fact that the Premier League is currently in the middle of a winter break.
Over the last few seasons, the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the Premier League schedule. Last season also saw the World Cup take place in the winter – with the league taking a month long break to factor in the tournament.
This season will see the return of the winter break that will take place between Sunday, January 14 and Monday, January 29.
In order to avoid a congested schedule across the Christmas period, the Premier League confirmed that no town rounds will take place within 24 hours of each other.
In Spain, Germany and France, the league tends to stop completely over the winter. However, in England, this will not be the case, and instead, the break will be split over two weekends.
Therefore Gameweek 21 will will take place over two weekends, with five games in each week.
That means 10 teams will feature one weekend and get the following off – with the other 10 having a break before playing the following weekend.
The 2023-24 Premier League season will see the return of the winter break
What are the fixtures?
Five games will be held across 12-14 January – with the other five taking place across 20-22 January.
The league will return in full with midweek games on January 30 and 31.
The full fixtures during the winter break is as follows:
Saturday 13 January
- Chelsea vs Fulham – 12.30pm (TNT Sports)
- Newcastle vs Man City – 5.30pm (TNT Sports)
Sunday 14 January
- Everton vs Aston Villa – 2pm (Sky Sports)
- Manchester United vs Tottenham – 4.30pm (Sky Sports)
Manchester City are scheduled to be in Premier League action later this evening against Newcastle
Saturday 20 January
- Arsenal vs Crystal Palace – 12:30pm (TNT Sports)
- Brentford vs Nottingham Forest – 5.30pm (Sky Sports)
Sunday 21 January
- Sheffield United vs West Ham – 2pm (TNT Sports)
- Bournemouth vs Liverpool – 4.30pm (Sky Sports)
Monday 22 January
- Brighton & Hove Albion vs Wolverhampton Wanderers – 7.45pm (TNT Sports)
