Football supporters face an unusually quiet Sunday schedule with just one Premier League fixture on the calendar. Despite the sparse lineup, the single match is a major encounter as league leaders Arsenal travel to face Liverpool.

Mikel Arteta and his squad visit Anfield aiming to recover from their surprising Carabao Cup elimination against League Two side Fleetwood on Tuesday night. Arsenal have not secured a victory at Anfield since 2012, when manager Mikel Arteta featured in the starting midfield.

Why is there only one Premier League match on Sunday?

Normally, television audiences enjoy multiple Premier League fixtures on Sundays, featuring afternoon matches ahead of the main 4.30pm broadcast slot. However, this weekend features a much lighter schedule without any early fixture.

Broadcast selections originally placed an Aston Villa versus Fulham match ahead of the Liverpool and Arsenal encounter. Last month, league organizers shifted the Aston Villa fixture forward to Saturday, October 31, at 8pm because of Villa's upcoming Champions League fixture against Barcelona on Tuesday, November 3.

League rules prevent participating clubs from playing two separate matches within a window of 60 hours. Because the Champions League published its calendar after domestic fixtures were arranged, officials had to move Aston Villa against Fulham to Saturday to protect Unai Emery's squad from playing twice in rapid succession.

That particular fixture could have stayed on Sunday if the match in Barcelona was scheduled for Wednesday, November 4 instead. Furthermore, the league fixture could not move to Friday because both Aston Villa and Fulham participated in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday.

Consequently, supporters receive a busy Saturday featuring eight matches, while the concluding fixtures of Gameweek 9 are divided across Sunday and Monday.

Gameweek 9 fixtures

All times GMT

Saturday, October 31

  • Chelsea vs Man Utd - 12.30pm
  • Bournemouth vs Leeds - 3pm
  • Brentford vs Nottingham Forest - 3pm
  • Coventry City vs Sunderland - 3pm
  • Hull City vs Ipswich - 3pm
  • Man City vs Brighton - 3pm
  • Tottenham vs Crystal Palace - 5.30pm
  • Aston Villa vs Fulham - 8pm

Sunday, November 1

  • Liverpool vs Arsenal - 4.30pm

Monday, November 2

  • Newcastle vs Everton - 8pm