This Sunday's Premier League schedule is unusually thin, with just one match taking place — Liverpool vs Arsenal at 16:30 GMT — compared to the packed Sunday programmes fans have grown accustomed to in recent weeks.

Why so few Sunday games?

Typically, Premier League Sundays feature at least one 14:00 GMT kick-off, and this season that slot has often hosted multiple fixtures. That pattern emerged as a consequence of four Premier League clubs competing in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League on Thursday evenings, which squeezes the weekend schedule.

Last weekend illustrated that perfectly: four matches were played on Sunday, while only two were staged in the traditional Saturday 15:00 slot.

Aston Villa's Champions League trip forces the change

The reason for this Sunday's near-empty card is Aston Villa's participation in the UEFA Champions League. Their home fixture against Fulham at Villa Park had been earmarked as the 14:00 Sunday match.

However, manager Unai Emery's side face Barcelona in a UEFA Champions League tie just two days later, on Tuesday, 3 November. To ease fixture congestion ahead of that European assignment, the Aston Villa vs Fulham game was brought forward to Saturday at 20:00. Sky Sports, which had already been scheduled to broadcast the original slot, will air the rearranged match instead.

A Saturday-heavy weekend

The bulk of this round's action falls on Saturday, 31 October, with five matches in the 15:00 slot alone. Chelsea entertain Manchester United at 12:30, followed by Bournemouth vs Leeds United, Brentford vs Nottingham Forest, Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion, and Tottenham Hotspur vs Crystal Palace — the last of which kicks off at 17:30. The Villa Park showdown between Aston Villa and Fulham rounds off Saturday's programme at 20:00.

Sunday, 1 November, belongs entirely to Liverpool and Arsenal at 16:30, before the weekend concludes on Monday, 2 November, with Newcastle United hosting Everton at 20:00.

Full fixture list

Saturday, 31 October (all times GMT): Chelsea vs Manchester United (12:30); Bournemouth vs Leeds United (15:00); Brentford vs Nottingham Forest (15:00); Coventry City vs Sunderland (15:00); Hull City vs Ipswich (15:00); Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion (15:00); Tottenham Hotspur vs Crystal Palace (17:30); Aston Villa vs Fulham (20:00).

Sunday, 1 November: Liverpool vs Arsenal (16:30).

Monday, 2 November: Newcastle United vs Everton (20:00).