Why there is no Premier League 12.30pm kick off on TV today

Football fans hoping for their weekly fix of Saturday lunchtime Premier League action are set to be disappointed today, with no scheduled 12.30pm kick-off in the top flight.

TNT Sports usually have a match booked for the slot, but they have opted against it this weekend. Nottingham Forest beat Leicester City on Friday night to get the weekend action under way, but that has not had any bearing on the decision.

The reason is that while TNT are able to show 52 Premier League games per season, they are divided by 32 Saturday lunchtime games and two sets of midweek fixtures. So this weekend is the first of four that will not have a lunchtime game.

READ MORE:Newcastle United predicted line up at Chelsea with one big change expected

READ MORE:Arsenal injury update Newcastle will be monitoring as Arteta reveals on three doubts for Liverpool

It is up to TNT to decide when these weekends will fall, with the fact that Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are all playing on Sunday after midweek European game potentially a factor.

There are several EFL games schedule for broadcast this lunchtime, however, with Coventry City vs Luton Town shown on Sky Sports. Bristol City vs Leeds United and Watford vs Blackburn will also be shown on Sky Sports+, as will the League One games between Manfield Town and Birmingham City, Reading vs Bristol Rovers and, in League Two, Colchester United vs Salford City and Morecambe vs Chesterfield.

There is plenty of Premier League football to come too, with Everton vs Fulham this evening (5.30pm) and two big games tomorrow. Newcastle United take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (2pm), of course, while Arsenal vs Liverpool (4.30pm) is the one many armchair fans are talking about. The 12.30pm kick-off returns next Saturday when Eddie Howe's Newcastle entertain Arsenal at St James' Park.