Why Manchester United and Liverpool aren’t on TV in the UK this weekend

The Premier League title race is almost over, but there is still plenty to decide in the top flight of English football.

One of those key remaining battles is the race for the top four and Champions League qualification. Newcastle in third and fourth-placed Manchester United are only a point ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool — who are on a run of seven straight wins.

Brighton still hold an outside hope of taking a spot, too, although it would require a serious loss of form elsewhere.

But two crucial games in this battle are taking place this Saturday and a quirk of the way television is handled in the UK means they are not going to be shown live.

Why are the Manchester United and Liverpool games not on television in the UK?

Viewers in the United Kingdom will join those in Cuba, Turkmenistan, North Korea and Afghanistan as the only people on the planet unable to legally watch Liverpool against Aston Villa and Bournemouth against Manchester United on Saturday.

The Premier League streams pictures live to 189 countries across the globe, but neither of those two games were selected by rights holders Sky Sports, BT Sport or Amazon in the UK.

They will therefore take place at 3pm BST on Saturday, which means they are subject to English football’s blackout rule.

Newcastle’s game against Leicester City was selected by Sky Sports in the UK and will be live on television on Monday night.

What’s the blackout rule?

Article 48 of UEFA’s statutes allows member nations to select a two-and-a-half-hour weekend slot where live football is banned from screens.

Some reports suggest its origin dates back to the 1950s, but in England, the rule only emerged in 1987 when ITV struck a major television deal with the Football League.

Reacting to the proliferation of media agreements around the continent, Europe’s governing body wanted to protect attendances at stadiums and participation in grassroots games, so offered out the choice. The FA, in conjunction with broadcasters, decided that between 2.45pm and 5.15pm would be sacrosanct.

The regulation remains in place and even stops foreign matches from being shown live at that time in the UK.

In 2018, the FA and UEFA pushed back against one-time broadcaster Eleven Sports, who had shown two rounds of La Liga and Serie A games during the blackout slot. Eleven Sports reluctantly relented but called the rule “unfit for the modern, digital era”.

Will the blackout change?

When the EFL — the three divisions below the Premier League — put out their tender document for their next round of television rights, they opened up the possibility of broadcasting every game.

DAZN, the sports streaming network, made a bid for the EFL rights that included scrapping the 3pm blackout.

The EFL eventually decided to go with existing rights holders Sky Sports. Sky Sports are increasing the number of games broadcast from the EFL every weekend, but are going to retain the 3pm broadcast blackout.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters also has no plans to support a move to end the blackout.

In March, he said: “We’ve been proponents of Article 48 for the entire Premier League and I don’t see that changing in the near term.”

There would be potentially significant financial benefits, but it seems as though the blackout is here to stay.

Are the games on television in the US?

Just like every Premier League match, the two games will be broadcast in the US.

Both kick off at 10am ET on May 20.

Manchester United’s trip to Bournemouth will be on USA Network, while Liverpool against Aston Villa is on Peacock Premium.

Newcastle against Leicester is on USA Network at 3pm on Monday, May 22.

Which games are being shown in the UK this weekend?

The game between Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford is on BT Sport at 12.30pm BST on Saturday, with Nottingham Forest’s crucial match in the relegation battle against Arsenal at 5.30pm BST on Sky Sports.

On Sunday, 21 May, West Ham United against Leeds United is on Sky Sports at 1.30pm, while Manchester City against Chelsea is on the same channel at 4pm.

City will win the title if they win that game — but could be crowned champions earlier should Arsenal lose at Forest.

What is the state of play in the battle for the top four?

Manchester City and Arsenal have both secured a place in the top four. City are on 85 points while Arsenal are on 81.

Newcastle and Manchester United are both on 66 points, with Newcastle in third due to a vastly superior goal difference.

Liverpool are fifth on 65 points but have played a game more than both Newcastle and Manchester United.

What about the final weekend of Premier League action?

These games have not been picked yet by the broadcasters and will not be until after this weekend, which the Premier League announced at the start of the season.

By then, the broadcasters will know whether the Champions League places have been decided or whether the relegation battle is finished.

Given the race for the title is essentially over, they will likely spread their selections over the clubs in the hunt for the top four and those fighting to stay in the Premier League.

All of the games on the final day already kick off at 4.30pm BST on 22 May, so broadcasting them is not an issue.

(Top photos: Getty Images)