Manchester United's Fixture Challenges: A Long Wait for Saturday 3pm Matches
Manchester United is poised to extend its absence from the traditional Saturday 3pm kick-off slot to over four months. Ruben Amorim's team has participated in only three matches during this time frame, the last being a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest on November 1.
The Red Devils have not hosted a Saturday 3pm match at Old Trafford since their victory over Sunderland on October 4. Since the draw at Forest, United has played six games outside of that kick-off time, and their upcoming schedule suggests that the trend will continue for the next 14 fixtures.
United's next opportunity for a Saturday 3pm match is on February 28, but that game is likely to be rescheduled due to Crystal Palace's participation in the Conference League play-offs.
In response to the situation, supporter Sam expressed on social media, "I knew a Saturday 3pm kick-off was too good to be true." Another fan, Chris, commented, "You purchase a season ticket with the expectation that games will be played at 3pm on Saturdays. Yet, if the kick-off times change and you can't attend, you aren't offered a refund, and your season ticket could be revoked. It’s frustrating." Peter added, "As the biggest club in the world, one would expect most United games to be available on TV, thus very few of the 19 will likely be at 3pm on Saturdays." However, JP noted, "While I understand United is a major draw for television, I've never seen a single club scheduled for so many Monday night games in one season."
How Do United's Sunday Games Compare to Other Clubs?
Manchester United is slated to play the most Sunday matches of any team not competing in European tournaments this season, from the start of the season until February 23. In contrast, Leeds United did not participate in a Premier League game on a Sunday until November, and Burnley is scheduled for just three Sunday matches by March.
As of February 23, the Sunday match counts are as follows:
Bournemouth: 4
Brentford: 7
Brighton: 7
Burnley: 3
Everton: 5
Fulham: 6
Leeds: 5
Manchester United: 9
Sunderland: 5
West Ham: 5
Wolves: 4
For comparison, Arsenal, who are competing in the Champions League, are scheduled to play just five Sunday matches within the same period.
Could United's Schedule Change Again?
The fixture list may be adjusted if Manchester United advances to the FA Cup fourth round, scheduled for the weekend of February 14. However, only 10 of the 32 FA Cup third-round ties are set for 3pm kick-offs, making it unlikely that United's match will occur at that time even if they progress.
Their next potential 3pm kick-off is a home game against Aston Villa in the Premier League on March 14, although television fixtures for March have yet to be finalized. United's schedule remains more adaptable than that of other clubs due to their failure to qualify for Europe and an early exit in the Carabao Cup. Last season, a similar situation arose, with only two of United's 60 matches in all competitions taking place at 3pm on Saturdays, largely due to their progression to the Europa League final, which necessitated rescheduling to Sundays.
Why Crystal Palace's KuPS Draw Delays Man United's 3pm Wait
Crystal Palace required a victory over Finnish side KuPS on Thursday to secure a top-eight finish in the Conference League table. Despite initially taking the lead, they were held to a 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park, resulting in a play-off spot instead. The play-offs will consist of two-legged ties on February 19 and February 26, pushing the Premier League fixture against United to likely take place on Sunday, March 1.
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