TV and Europe see fixtures changes

Jul 10 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON yesterday announced a raft of fixtures changes to their Premier League calendar for the new campaign.

The shake-up has occurred due to a variety of reasons, including Manchester City’s hosting of the UEFA Cup final – a fixture in which David Moyes’s side are hoping to take part.

Three Everton games will be shown live on Sky – the trip to Tottenham Hotspur and the visits of Liverpool and Middlesbrough – while the home clash with Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, August 25 will be broadcast on Setanta at 5.15pm.

Everton’s UEFA Cup commitments mean the trip to Aston Villa has been put back to Sunday, September 23 (2pm), and should progress be made to the group stages of the UEFA Cup, it would lead to other Premier League fixtures being put back 24 hours to a Sunday.

The home game with Manchester United on Saturday, September 15 will now kick-off at noon on police advice, while the Grand National has led to the visit of Derby County being put back to Sunday, April 6 (3pm).

Manchester City’s request that a number of fixtures been altered to aid their preparation of hosting the UEFA Cup final next May has also had a knock-on effect.

It means Everton now journey to Newcastle United on Sunday, October 7 (3pm), visit Middlesbrough on New Year’s Day (3pm) and finish the season on Sunday, May 11 with a home game against Newcastle (3pm).

Meanwhile, a number of Liverpool games have been rearranged after Sky and Setanta announced their first batch of live games for the coming season.

Four of their first five Premier League fixtures will be televised, starting with the opening game of the season at Aston Villa on Saturday, August 11 at 5.15pm – the first live top-flight game for Irish broadcaster Setanta.

Liverpool’s first home game against Chelsea has been put back to Sunday, August 19 at 4pm, while the Merseyside derby at Goodison on Saturday, October 20 has been brought forward to 12.45pm.

In total, six Liverpool games have been chosen by Sky while a further three have been selected for broadcast on Setanta.

Kick-off changes mean Liverpool’s home game with Manchester United will now start at noon on Saturday, December 15, as will the return match between the teams at Old Trafford on Saturday, March 22.

With the television schedule having only been determined until the end of November, supporters of both Merseyside clubs can expect further alterations to fixtures over the Christmas period.

EVERTON FIXTURE ALTERATIONS/LIVE GAMES. Tue Aug 14: Tottenham (A) 8pm (on Sky), Sat Aug 25: Blackburn (H) 5.15pm (on Setanta), Sat Sep 15: Man Utd (H) 12pm, Sun Sep 23: Aston Villa (A) 2pm, Sun Sep 30: Middlesbrough (H) 4pm (on Sky), Sun Oct 7: Newcastle (A) 3pm, Sat Oct 20: Liverpool (H) 12.45pm (on Sky), Tue Jan 1: Middlesbrough (A) 3pm, Sun Apr 6: Derby (H) 3pm, Sun May 11: Newcastle (H) 3pm.

LIVERPOOL LIST OF TELEVISED GAMES.

SKY: Sun Aug 19: Chelsea (H) 4pm, Sat Aug 25: Sunderland (A) 12.45pm, Sat Sep 15: Portsmouth (A) 12.45pm, Sat Oct 20: Everton (A) 12.45pm, Sun Oct 28: Arsenal (H) 4pm, Sat Nov 24: Newcastle (A) 12.45pm.

SETANTA. Sat Aug 11: Aston Villa (A) 5.15pm, Sat Nov 3: Blackburn (A) 5.15pm, Sat Nov 10: Fulham (H) 5.15pm.