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Opinion

Newcastle v Liverpool timing decision totally unacceptable when there was this alternative

5 years ago
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On Friday afternoon, supporters at last found out what was happening with the Newcastle v Liverpool match.

Well, when I say they found out, Friday’s announcement hasn’t exactly helped much.

We don’t yet know who has been chosen for Live TV on the very final day but that doesn’t matter, as on the final day of the season, all games kick-off at 3pm on Sunday 12 May regardless of whether they are chosen for TV or not.

So the games on the second last weekend were the final pieces of the jigsaw…

These are the games selected:

Friday 3 May 2019

8pm Everton v Burnley (Sky Sports)

Saturday 4 May 2019

12.30pm Man City v Leicester (Sky Sports)*

5.30pm Cardiff v Crystal Palace (BT Sport)

Sunday 5 May 2019

2pm Huddersfield v Man Utd (Sky Sports)*

4.30pm Newcastle v Liverpool (Sky Sports)*

Monday 6 May 2019

8pm AFC Bournemouth v Spurs (Sky Sports)*

So yesterday we found out that Newcastle v Liverpool had  moved to Sunday 5 May 4.30pm.

However, it could move again depending on Liverpool’s Champions League involvement.

If Liverpool get through their quarter-final against Porto, they would then play the semi-final first leg on Tuesday 7 May.

Which would then mean the Newcastle v Liverpool match being almost certainly pulled back to the Saturday, with another TV slot found.

The second leg against Porto is Wednesday 17 April, so Newcastle fans are set to find out just over two weeks before the Liverpool game as to when it will definitely be played, with probably Thursday 18 April when dates/times will be confirmed.

We all understand the relationship between Premier League and TV broadcasters, with Liverpool almost sure to still be in the title race when they come to Tyneside, I can accept that for the money that is paid into the Premier League pot, they should be entitled to choose this game.

However, I have seen absolutely nobody questioning why Newcastle v Liverpool wasn’t moved to the 5.30pm Saturday slot?

I know that this is a BT Sport slot on Saturday teatime but surely on this occasion, Sky Sports could have done some sort of deal that would have meant the game could take place on the Saturday to avoid uncertainty for fans.

With Liverpool overwhelming favourites (1/5) to qualify past Porto, the Newcastle v Liverpool match is almost certainly going to end up being moved back to the Saturday anyway.

As it stands though, no Newcastle or Liverpool fans can 100% commit to non-refundable travel or accommodation, or indeed tickets if they can’t make the Saturday if it is moved.

Fans aren’t even bottom of the pile when it comes to decisions being made, they don’t even make it that high up in the food chain.

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