Well, apologies, but there is so much assumption on this thread sometimes it is hard to tell these things apart. I still think it's unlikely to be the case, all the problems mentioned here would be an issue whatever time the match is played.

Less time for drinking before the game - it is the biggest reason for an earlier kick off in the eyes of the police.

Pubs around Old Trafford were forced to close pre-match for the FA Cup 3rd Round encounter a few years back, that's how paranoid they are.

There was lots of trouble at service stations when Everton played Man Utd last season in the semi final of FA cup.

Match of the Day relegated to BBC 2 !!!

New Years Eve Saturday Dec 31st at 10pm

Blimey it didn't even get relegated for the Olympics.

Got a feeling they may have Kept MOTD on New Years Eve on BBC1, if there wasn't 8 Games to Cover.

Back in 2011 MOTD was shown on BBC1 on New Years Eve, think there might have been less fixtures.

I know since then shows like Graham Norton and BBC1 showing a concert have done well

So following the Champions League and Europa League draws, constraints are placed on the following fixtures:

Week 25: Arsenal v Hull cannot be played on Monday night.

FA Cup 5th Round: Any ties featuring Man Utd or Spurs are limited to the Sunday or Monday (for Spurs). Any tie featuring Man City has to be played on either the Friday night or Saturday. Let's hope they don't draw Man Utd or Spurs!

Week 26: Tottenham v Stoke has to be played on the Sunday or Monday night (though FA Cup 5th Round Replays would be played that midweek - so Monday is probably off limits)

Week 27: Liverpool v Arsenal has to be played on either the Friday night or the Saturday.

Week 28: Arsenal v Leicester has to be played on either the Friday night or the Saturday.

I can definitely see Sky showing Bournemouth v Man City on the Monday night of Week 25.

EDIT: With Man Utd now playing their second leg on the Wednesday, this means that the Manchester derby could be scheduled for the Saturday, but it probably won't be.

All second legs on 23 February except St-Étienne v Manchester United and Fenerbahçe v Krasnodar on 22 February

We assume St Etienne is too close to Lyon who also play Alkmaar ??

Yes:
https://twitter.com/OliWinton/status...rc=twsrc%5Etfw

So Bt will have a 5 o clock game followed by 745 on the Wednesday

I'd imagine Liverpool Arsenal will be the half 12 KO on Saturday

Here we go

https://www.premierleague.com/news/211417

No Friday games

Chelsea V Arsenal on Sky

Liverpool V Spurs on BT

I haven't been as active on here this season as usual. Can anyone confirm the amount of 1st picks BT have left. I can count seven times they've used it, but have I missed any?

2 - Leicester v Arsenal
6 - Arsenal v Chelsea
11 - Arsenal v Tottenham
13 - Chelsea v Tottenham
19 - Liverpool v Man City
22 - Man City v Tottenham
25 - Liverpool v Tottenham

I'm assuming they've used up their 'pass backs' on the following weeks, and not picked the following...
3 - Tottenham v Liverpool
7 - Tottenham v Man City
10 - No stand out game
15 - Man United v Tottenham

So, I have BT at seven 1st picks and 4 pass-backs, leaving them with 2 1st picks left and 2 pass-backs. So, essentially Sky still need to offer them 4 potential weekends. Is that how others see it?

Unless Tottenham v Middlesbrough is "F"

That is Tottenham maxed out by BT Sport in Package B

And they have only used up Watford for their quota

Still have
Bournemouth Burnley Crystal Palace Southampton and Swansea

league cup final weekend is interesting

seems to suggest that a Liverpool vs Man Utd final wont be a 4pm

Soton vs Arsenal not picked which could have been a good lead in game to the final, or if they are in it, a good game to have later on

There must be a Package A game at a strange time

It appears that there were 14 used up to end of Jan

So still 14 left to pick in 14 weeks

But Feb 25th is blank at 1230 ??

So Maybe going back
Man U v Leicester was a Package A and Not G???

Already announced it is 16:30 or earlier if Police think there will be trouble

Still no Hull in Package D

That gives a strong impression that Chelsea v Hull in January could be a D not G pick

perhaps they felt another spurs game can generate some subs with them on @ man city and liverpool around the same time

soton vs west ham would have been my pick though

I don't see it suggesting that.

In fact, it suggests the opposite because if Man Utd are in the final, then Spurs v Stoke will move to 1.30pm (from noon).

Also it looks like Man U are finished with Pack D now.

I would now guess one of the Sun at 4 games is their second Pack G and not Man U v Leics which is Pack A ??

Unless the Manchester Derby is a Pack C rather than D

It looks like the EFL weekend is hard to guess

But it has to be a First pick ?

As we are short on Pack E as well

Maybe Lei v ManU is an E being played on Sun due to potential Cup replays

No. Highly unlikely I think. Spurs game pick 1, then man utd pick 2 imho

If sky pick a first pick then they automatically can chose a second pick if they wish

That's because it was announced last week in the latest EFL games. Is definitely scheduled for a 4.30pm ko unless, as has been mentioned above police advice asks for an earlier time which will 100% happen if that ends up be Liverpool v Man United!!