The Alternative Premier League Table: No 31 – How kick-off time impacts your team

Welcome to the newest version of The Alternative Premier League Table, the place every week, The Athletic analyses all the division by way of a particular lens.

As normal, the article that follows is lengthy however detailed, so please cool down and revel in all of it — or use the index on the backside of the web page to leap to a particular membership.

As the soccer calendar continues to develop extra crowded, kick-off instances have turn into a sizeable a part of the talk round performances.

For a protracted time, the overwhelming majority of soccer video games in England had been performed at three o’clock on Saturday, a time that suited an period the place a number of followers labored in factories on Saturday mornings. Even when the Premier League started in 1992, most matches came about in that slot, with one recreation moved to Sunday and sometimes one other to Monday night time for dwell TV protection.

But today that’s very a lot not the case. The eight Premier League video games this weekend will occupy seven completely different time slots. Supporters of some golf equipment — Manchester United this season, for instance — really feel like they infrequently get an opportunity to see their aspect play on the ‘traditional’ time. And it issues to matchday followers, the place custom and behavior are a key a part of a day watching your membership.

So, this week’s Alternative Table exhibits what number of video games the 20 groups have performed in each the Saturday 3pm slots and Sunday 4:30pm slots since 2021-22. Other begin instances are mentioned beneath, and key takeaways embrace:

• Burnley have performed 106 Premier League matches since August 2021 and haven’t performed in a single Sunday 4:30pm recreation.
• Manchester United‘s ‘midweek season’ is actual. This week’s journey to Bournemouth shall be their eleventh performed Monday-Friday.
• Liverpool and Arsenal are the most typical Sunday 4:30pm groups up to now 5 seasons.
• Chelsea have performed simply 19 instances within the ‘Super Sunday’ 4:30pm slot since 2021-22, with all the opposite ‘Big Six’ groups having achieved so in 30 matches or extra.
• Everton have contested six of the 14 Monday night time matches in 2025-26, recording a win, three attracts and two losses.
• And why Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium appears notably impacted by day and time.

Manchester United

Plenty has been made from the timing of United’s matches this season. Back in October, the membership even spoke to the Premier League concerning the variety of video games they’ve been requested to play on weekdays in comparison with weekends.

Ten of United’s 30 league video games this season have taken place between Monday and Friday, with one other to come back at Bournemouth this Friday. Since 2021-22, they’ve performed 47 instances between Monday and Friday, greater than all their ‘Big Six’ rivals besides Chelsea (48).

United have additionally had solely 21 video games within the Saturday 3pm slot in that span, a minimum of eight fewer than all of their ‘Big Six’ rivals. This isn’t new, although. Some of their most iconic title-winning groups within the twenty first century, together with the 2002-03, 2006-09, 2010-11 and 2012-13 sides, had solely between 16 to 30 per cent of their fixtures in that 3pm slot.

United are nonetheless a big-game pull, with 33 matches within the Sunday 4:30pm slot since 2021-22, solely behind Liverpool (36) and Arsenal (35). They have turn into a Sunday 2pm staple too, with 25 video games in that slot, together with Tottenham (29).

Everton

Think of Monday-night soccer today and Everton could be the team that pop into your head.

Nearly 20 per cent of their video games in 2025-26 (six of 31) have been in that 8pm slot. Since 2021-22, Everton have featured in a league-high 17 of the 89 matches performed on Mondays. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has performed in each certainly one of them however saved only one clear sheet, conceding 30 instances. His save fee of 61 per cent is decrease than on every other day and his general common of 70 per cent.

Everton, who haven’t performed in Europe throughout this span, are Saturday staples too. Nobody has appeared in additional matches on that day since 2021-22 than James Tarkowski’s 99, with Pickford (97) not far behind.

Liverpool

Their former supervisor Jurgen Klopp’s complaints about Liverpool being picked for the televised Saturday 12:30pm kick-offs had been effectively documented. It isn’t a time slot the lads from Anfield have usually loved taking part in in.

Since 2021-22, they’ve performed 20 instances in what’s often the primary recreation of a weekend, solely behind Manchester City (23) and Manchester United (21). Liverpool have received 12 of these, whereas drawing 5 and shedding three. Their common title rivals throughout this time, City, have received 15 and misplaced six, whereas United have received 10 and misplaced seven. Liverpool have loved first rate success when taking part in between Tuesday and Thursday, successful 22 of 33 video games whereas shedding thrice.

In 2025-26, they’ve fared higher on Saturday (seven wins, two attracts in 14 matches) than Sunday (4 wins, three losses in 9). Hugo Ekitike has notably loved taking part in on Saturdays, scoring 9 objectives in 13 appearances.

Burnley

Nineteen of Burnley’s 30 matches in 2025-26 have been within the Saturday 3pm slot, with Scott Parker’s aspect successful twice and shedding 10 instances. Their file on this slot since 2021-22 (excluding their 2022-23 and 2024-25 seasons within the second-tier Championship) — 9 victories and 33 losses in 60 video games — makes for equally grim studying. They have additionally been overwhelmed 5 instances and drawn as soon as of their six matches in different time slots on Saturdays.

Burnley have loved higher success in midweek, successful and drawing 5 every of their 18 matches performed between Tuesdays and Thursdays since 2021-22.

Tellingly, none of their 106 top-flight video games on this interval have been within the Sunday 4:30pm slot. Burnley are clearly not deemed a draw when tv executives make their prime-window picks.

Arsenal

Arsenal’s file in large video games since 2021-22 has been admirable, with 20 wins and simply six losses whereas taking part in 35 instances within the Sunday 4:30pm matches. They have additionally been good in Saturday 3pm video games (when usually going through weaker opponents), taking three factors in all 5 such video games this season and 23 of 29 since 2021-22.

But the Saturday 5:30pm video games have typically been a wrestle in the identical 5 seasons, with 14 wins from 28 matches, whereas their file on Mondays and Fridays — six victories and 4 defeats in 12 matches — isn’t one of the best both.

Arsenal are inclined to take pleasure in their Super Sunday assignments (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Chelsea

Seven of Chelsea’s 30 league video games this season have been within the Saturday 3pm slot, probably the most among the many ‘Big Six’, they usually have received simply three of them. They have equally struggled in that day’s 5:30pm slot too, successful and shedding three every of six matches.

Chelsea have had solely 5 league fixtures on Sunday all season, successful one and drawing three. Since 2021-22, they’ve performed simply 57 matches on Sundays, fewer than 4 of the opposite 5 ‘Big Six’ groups (Manchester City are marginally behind on 55) in addition to West Ham (72) and Aston Villa (61).

This is regardless of competing in Europe in all however one season (2023-24) and even taking part in within the Conference League final season (which has its video games on Thursdays, necessitating that the next Premier League video games transfer to Sundays).

Chelsea have additionally struggled in midweek since 2021-22, with 12 victories and 13 defeats of their 35 matches performed between Tuesday and Thursday.

Nottingham Forest

Forest are in 2023-24 West Ham territory, competing in Europe whereas battling relegation domestically.

That explains why they’ve had simply 4 Saturday 3pm video games this season, in comparison with Spurs’ six, Leeds’ 9, West Ham’s 11, Wolves’ 13 and Burnley’s 19. Between 2021-22 and 2024-25, they performed in 44 such matches.

They are unbeaten on Wednesdays, with a win and two attracts, however have struggled on Saturdays, notably within the 12:30pm kick-offs, shedding all 4. Their file on Sundays has been stable, with 4 wins and three defeats in 13 2pm kick-offs. Forest’s subsequent recreation — a relegation duel at fellow strugglers Spurs — kicks off on the uncommon time of two:15pm on Sunday.

Crystal Palace

No team have created extra anticipated objectives on Sundays than Palace’s 22.6 throughout 17 matches. Unfortunately for them nevertheless, they’ve scored simply 13 objectives in these video games, an underperformance of practically 10. Their opponents have created 21.5 xG — additionally probably the most on Sundays — however have scored 19 instances, leading to Palace successful simply 4 of those fixtures.

They have featured in 2pm Sunday kick-offs 12 instances, resulting from their Conference League involvement (degree with Forest for probably the most) however have managed solely two victories.

Outside the elite, Palace have been one of many league’s finest groups within the Saturday 3pm slot, successful 4 and drawing two of their seven video games.

Palace create loads of probabilities on Sundays, however they do not at all times take them (Glyn KIRK / AFP through Getty Images)

Newcastle United

Newcastle have hit the woodwork 10 instances in 14 matches on Saturdays, probably the most by any of the 20 golf equipment on a single day. Their shot conversion fee of 11 per cent remains to be higher, although, than the eight per cent they’ve managed in 9 video games on Sundays.

Seven of these Saturday fixtures have been at house, with Newcastle successful 4 and shedding two, whereas successful and shedding two every of the seven aways. That development extends to Sundays too, with two victories in 4 video games at St James’ Park and none in 5 on their travels.

Manchester City

Perhaps unsurprisingly, City have collected probably the most factors from Saturday 3pm kickoffs since 2021-22, with precisely 100 from 41 video games (31 wins, seven attracts).

They have struggled in Sunday 4:30pm kick-offs, although, with simply 12 victories in 30 matches, whereas drawing 10 instances. Arsenal, as compared, have received 20 and drawn 9 of 35, whereas Liverpool have 18 wins and 13 attracts from their 38.

City have been a lot better than each these groups within the Saturday 12:30pm slot, successful 15 of 23 video games, and the Sunday 2pm one, 11 victories in 14. They are just about unbeatable in midweek with 29 wins and only one loss in 37 video games.

Brighton and Hove Albion

Brighton have performed 15 video games within the Saturday 3pm slot this season (solely behind Burnley’s 19), successful seven instances and shedding 4. It is according to their file since 2021-22 of 32 victories and 24 attracts in 75 such matches.

Outside of these fixtures, although, Brighton have struggled. They have drawn three of their six video games performed between Monday and Wednesday with only a solitary win, whereas their file on Sundays is common (three victories and three attracts in eight outings).

Brighton haven’t had a single match within the 4:30pm Super Sunday slot this season, having additionally performed solely thrice then between 2021-22 and 2024-25 — they did win two of these, to their credit score.

Aston Villa

Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Martinez and Leon Bailey have performed probably the most video games on Fridays since 2021-22 with seven apiece (degree with Kyle Walker-Peters). Watkins, a prolific Saturday striker with 40 objectives in 81 matches throughout this era, has not scored in these video games and has achieved so simply 17 instances in 58 Sunday matches.

That has not augured effectively for Villa who, resulting from their ongoing participation within the Europa League, have recurrently performed on Sundays this season. To their credit score, they’ve nonetheless received 10 of their 15 video games, together with eight of 11 within the 2pm slot, with Emiliano Buendia and Morgan Rogers scoring 11 instances between them from simply 5.2 xG.

Unai Emery’s aspect have received two of three Saturday 12:30pm kick-offs, extending their file in that slot since 2021-22 to 9 victories from 12 matches. They haven’t received any of their 3pm video games, although, and maintain a noticeably common file over the previous 5 seasons in that slot, with 22 wins and 11 losses in 44 outings.

Ollie Watkins contemplates one other clean Sunday (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

West Ham United

West Ham, of their ongoing scrap to keep away from relegation, have performed 11 of their 30 league video games this season within the Saturday 3pm slot, successful three and shedding seven. They have had higher luck of their 5 matches performed between Tuesday and Thursday, with one victory and three attracts.

Jarrod Bowen is the one participant to have performed in all 16 of their matches on Saturdays this season. He has usually excelled on the weekend since 2021-22, recording 23 objectives and 11 assists in 66 Sunday video games and 19 and 14 in 66 Saturday ones. Also, he’s behind solely Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (seven) for objectives on Mondays with six, from simply 2.1 xG, in 11 matches. West Ham have received 5 and misplaced 4 of these.

Leeds United

Elland Road has been a fortress for Leeds, notably once they do not play on both day of the weekend. Since the beginning of 2021-22, Leeds have received simply certainly one of their 13 Premier League away video games scheduled between Monday and Friday with 16 objectives scored and 32 conceded, in comparison with six of 14 at house (18 scored, 24 conceded).

Thirty-three of their 48 matches on Saturdays have been within the 3pm slot, with Leeds successful 5 and drawing 5 of 13 at house whereas shedding 14 of 20 away (three wins). But TV picks should fear Leeds followers as their membership have struggled in each the 12:30pm and 5:30pm Saturday slots, getting overwhelmed in 9 of 13 mixed video games house and away.

Brentford

Only Manchester City (133 in 50 video games) have extra house Premier League objectives on Saturdays since 2021-22 than Brentford’s 98, leading to 24 victories and 15 attracts from 52 matches. They have additionally received 5 and misplaced simply certainly one of their eight house fixtures on Mondays and Fridays (together with an ideal three-out-of-three file on Fridays).

Their Gtech Community Stadium has not had the identical galvanising impact on Sundays, with Brentford successful eight and shedding 9 of 20 matches. They have been even worse in midweek there, successful simply certainly one of 11 such outings whereas drawing six instances — solely Chelsea and West Ham (seven every) have been overwhelmed extra typically.

Noted Saturday venue the Gtech Community Stadium (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs haven’t performed on a Monday or Friday this season however have struggled of their midweek fixtures, drawing two and shedding three of 5 video games between Tuesday and Thursday.

They have recorded their finest ends in the Saturday 3pm and Sunday 4:30pm slots, choosing up 4 wins and 4 attracts from 12 mixed outings. Their weekend file outdoors of these matches reads: three victories, three attracts and 9 losses in 15.

But Tottenham merely haven’t been capable of decide up three factors in midweek video games, with six wins and 16 losses from 28 such fixtures since 2021-22, whereas conceding 45 objectives and retaining solely 5 clear sheets.

Bournemouth

Only Wolves (20), Everton and Fulham (11 every) have misplaced extra Saturday 3pm house matches since 2021-22 than Bournemouth’s 10. They have received simply 11 of these 29 video games. Overall, Bournemouth’s 18 losses in their very own stadium on Saturdays is barely behind Wolves’ 28 among the many present Premier League golf equipment.

That Saturday 3pm slot has been a difficulty for them away from the Vitality Stadium, too. Bournemouth have misplaced 17 of 40 such video games, solely fewer than Brentford (18), Burnley and Wolves (each 19). But Andoni Iraola’s aspect have confirmed tough opponents on Sundays, notably when at house within the 2pm slot, with three wins and 6 attracts from 10 such fixtures since 2021-22.

Bournemouth are stable on Mondays and Fridays, with three wins and three attracts from eight (and 0 house losses) since 2021-22. Their video games have assured goalmouth motion, with 29 objectives scored throughout each groups in these matches. Antoine Semenyo netted 4 instances in two Friday video games within the first half of this season earlier than a switch to Manchester City in January.

Fulham

Raul Jimenez on a Sunday is among the league’s finest strikers. He has 4 objectives and two assists in simply 495 minutes throughout eight outings on the ultimate day of the week, with a 29 per cent conversion fee. Fulham have received two and drawn three of these matches. The Saturday model of Jimenez is a special participant. The 34-year-old Mexico striker has scored simply twice from 4.3 xG in 15 outings, together with his conversion fee dropping to seven per cent.

Since 2021-22, Fulham have been stable when kicking off at 7:30pm or later, successful 11 of 20 such house video games whereas retaining six clear sheets. Their win fee of 55 per cent in these fixtures is barely bettered by Manchester City (78 per cent), Liverpool (77), Manchester United (69), Arsenal (66) and Newcastle (57).

Evening kick-off Fulham are a harmful prospect (Adrian Dennis / AFP through Getty Images)

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Across 2021-22 and 2024-25, Wolves received 20 of their 47 house matches and 10 of 38 aways on Saturdays. But they’ve managed only one victory in 17 such outings thus far this season.

Wolves have not often performed on Friday nights throughout the 5 seasons however have received two of their three video games performed then. They have been glorious on Tuesdays, successful 5 of seven (together with 4 of 5 at Molineux) and shedding simply as soon as.

There have been solely 37 matches on Sundays since 2021-22, with simply Bournemouth (24) and Fulham (34) showing in fewer among the many 17 ever-present groups throughout that interval.

Sunderland

Eighteen of Sunderland’s 30 matches this season have been on Saturdays, together with 14 in its 3pm slot, with solely Burnley (19) and Brighton (15) taking part in then extra typically. They have received six and misplaced six of these video games.

Sunderland have additionally been stable on Sundays, recording a 1-0 house win towards neighbours and arch-rivals Newcastle whereas drawing with Spurs, Leeds and Villa. Their solely defeat on that day was towards Fulham final month. This Sunday, they are going to try to repeat the Tyne-Wear derby trick once they go to St James’ Park.