Why Some Premier League Matches This Weekend Are Impossible to Watch Live in the UK
Every Premier League weekend, UK fans discover the same frustration: some matches are simply impossible to watch live, no matter how many subscriptions they have. The weekend of January 3–4, 2026 is a textbook example.
Despite a full slate of fixtures, only four matches are available live in the UK, while several others — including games involving major clubs — cannot be shown live at all.
Here’s why.
Read more: Which Premier League Matches Can You Actually Watch Live in the UK This Weekend of January 3–4?
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| Some Premier League Matches This Weekend Are Impossible to Watch Live in the UK |
The Main Reason: UK Broadcast Rules and Scheduling
The biggest factor is the long-standing Saturday 3:00 p.m. blackout rule. Under UK broadcasting regulations, football matches kicking off at 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays cannot be shown live on TV or streaming platforms. The rule exists to protect attendance at lower-league matches.
Official fixture times are confirmed by the Premier League here:
https://www.premierleague.com/fixtures
However, blackout rules are only part of the story.
Which Matches Are Impossible to Watch Live This Weekend?
During the January 3–4, 2026 round, the following matches are not broadcast live anywhere in the UK:
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Brighton vs Burnley
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Wolves vs West Ham
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Everton vs Brentford (Sunday, 3:00 p.m.)
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Fulham vs Liverpool (Sunday, 3:00 p.m.)
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Newcastle United vs Crystal Palace (Sunday, 3:00 p.m.)
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Tottenham Hotspur vs Sunderland (Sunday, 3:00 p.m.)
These games fall into two categories:
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Matches affected by the Saturday blackout window
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Matches not selected by UK broadcasters despite being outside the blackout
Only a limited number of fixtures are chosen each weekend by Sky Sports and TNT Sports, meaning several matches are left without live coverage.
Read more: Saturday 3PM Blackout Explained: Why You Can’t Watch Some Premier League Matches Live in the UK
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| Your UK Live Guide This Weekend |
Why Sunday 3pm Matches Still Aren’t Shown Live
While the blackout rule formally applies to Saturdays, Sunday 3:00 p.m. matches are often not televised live either. This is due to:
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Limited broadcast slots
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Contractual allocations
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Broadcaster scheduling priorities
As a result, even high-profile fixtures like Fulham vs Liverpool are unavailable live in the UK this weekend.
Matches You Can Watch Live (For Comparison)
To put the restrictions into context, only these matches are available live:
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Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest — TNT Sports
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AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal — Sky Sports
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Leeds United vs Manchester United — TNT Sports
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Manchester City vs Chelsea — Sky Sports
Live TV listings are available at:
What Can Fans Do Instead?
When live viewing is impossible, UK fans still have several legal alternatives.
Watch Highlights on BBC
The BBC offers comprehensive highlights through Match of the Day on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football
Extended Highlights and Clips
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Official Premier League highlights on YouTube
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Club websites and apps after full-time
Live Radio Commentary
BBC Radio 5 Live and local BBC radio stations provide live audio commentary, even when TV coverage is unavailable.
Why This Frustration Is Uniquely BritishIronically, fans abroad often have easier access. In countries like the U.S. and Canada, every Premier League match is available live via streaming. The UK’s combination of split rights and blackout rules makes it the most restrictive market. |
The Bottom Line
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Several Premier League matches this weekend cannot be watched live in the UK
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The 3pm blackout and broadcaster selection are the main reasons
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Only four fixtures are available live
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Highlights and radio remain the best alternatives
For UK fans, understanding why a match is unavailable doesn’t make it easier — but it does explain why, every weekend, some Premier League games are simply impossible to watch live.
