Why there is no 12:30pm kick-off in the Premier League this Saturday with the top flight undergoing a time change

This weekend's Premier League action will take place earlier than usual, despite no lunchtime match scheduled for Saturday.

Leicester vs Nottingham Forestlive on talkSPORT, will be the first Friday match since the opening night of the 2024/25 season.

The forest faces Crystal Palace on Monday night, but return to action just four days later, following a full game week of UEFA competence.

Surprisingly, Forest's unique schedule has little to do with why there will be no 12.30pm kick-off in the top flight this Saturday.

Earlier this year, Manchester United beat Fulham on Friday, August 16 before Liverpool sealed victory over Ipswich the following morning.

But that's not the case this weekend…

Why is there no start at 12:30 pm?

There will be no Saturday lunchtime kick-off in the Premier League this weekend as no games have been selected for broadcast.

Under the current Premier League broadcast agreement, TNT Sports occupies the 12:30 pm time slot with Package A.

TNT broadcasts 52 English top-flight matches per season, split between Saturday lunchtime and two rounds of midweek matches.

That leaves the British broadcaster with 32 selections from the remaining 36 Premier League matchweeks and four blank spots to take into account.

Unfortunately for fans, TNT made this Saturday the first Gameweek without a morning bid after eight consecutive picks.

While there will be no official reasoning behind their decision, as the timing of their targets is not mandatory, European action has surely played a role.

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TNT Sports own most of the British rights to the Champions League football and exclusive UK coverage of the Europa League, and European conference league action.

This means that Liverpool city ​​man, Villa AstonTottenham, Chelsea and manchester unitedEuropean adventures will also be shown by them – with Arsenal the exception on Amazon Prime.

Leading Premier League broadcaster Sky Sports has picked up Liverpool's trip to the Emirates to battle the Gunners on Sunday.

Sky will also show Leicester vs Forest on Friday night, plus EvertonThe afternoon clash against Fulham.

Meanwhile, matches involving Spurs, Chelsea and United are not eligible for Saturday's 12.30pm selection due to all three teams playing European football on Thursday night.

This left TNT with only four potential Premier League matches to choose from, and they decided that none would justify good viewing figures.

Clubs must appear at least once per season in TNT's 12:30 pm slot, with a maximum of six.

The remaining four games are Villa at home against Bournemouth, with TNT already at Villa Park this week for the Champions League.

Likewise, the host of the city Southamptonwith both teams playing a match on Saturday morning this season, and the champions in net for a match at the Etihad in midweek.

Brighton, who have had a joint-record two 12.30pm games this season, entertain Wolves, who have not yet been scheduled for their venue.

Finally, that leaves Brentford, who have the second smallest stadium in the Premier League behind Bournemouth, and ipswich townwho fulfilled his quota on Saturday morning against Liverpool.