There is a Champions League week in between, but the weekend of 17 to 19 October is the one a lot of expats circle. Everton host Chelsea early on Saturday, Manchester City take on Ipswich, and the two games that will empty the pubs sit on Sunday: Leeds against Manchester United in the afternoon, then Nottingham Forest against Arsenal at 16:30.
Saturday 17 October
- 12:30 Everton v Chelsea (TNT Sports)
- Brentford v Liverpool
- Fulham v Hull City
- Manchester City v Ipswich Town
- 17:30 Newcastle United v Aston Villa (Sky Sports)
Brentford against Liverpool is the sort of fixture that looks routine on paper and turns into a scrap. Liverpool have been travelling badly in patches this season, and a Saturday lunchtime kick-off at a small ground is exactly where dropped points hide. Newcastle v Aston Villa is the pick of the 17:30 slot.
Sunday 18 October
- 14:00 AFC Bournemouth v Sunderland (Sky Sports)
- 14:00 Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace (Sky Sports)
- 14:00 Leeds United v Manchester United (Sky Sports)
- 16:30 Nottingham Forest v Arsenal (Sky Sports)
Leeds v Manchester United at Elland Road is the one with the edge. Old rivalries, a loud ground, and United teams have a habit of either winning these comfortably or falling apart completely. There is rarely anything in between. Bournemouth, Sunderland and Palace all played in Europe the Thursday before, which is why their games were pushed to Sunday, so their legs may be a factor.
Forest v Arsenal finishes the day. Arsenal arrive as the team to beat, Forest as the side that makes life difficult at home. If you support either, you already know you are not doing anything else at 16:30.
Monday 19 October
- 20:00 Tottenham Hotspur v Coventry City (Sky Sports)
A Monday night under the lights to close the round. Coventry are the kind of promoted side that has nothing to lose, which is exactly what makes them awkward for a Spurs team that has been up and down all season.
Why this weekend is a pain if you live abroad
The rights are split. Everton v Chelsea is on TNT Sports, most of Sunday is on Sky Sports, and depending on where you live the same match may sit behind a different broadcaster, a local blackout or a subscription you cannot buy from outside your home country. Kick-off times add another twist: a 17:30 game in England is 18:30 in most of Europe, but a Sunday afternoon game is the middle of the night in the US or Australia.
That is the bit people underestimate when they move. It is not that the football disappears. It is that the package you paid for at home stops following you across the border.
Related reading
- Watching live sports abroad: football, F1 and more
- Champions League Matchday 3: the ties worth staying up for
- Liverpool vs Manchester City: Sunday’s Premier League clash
Follow the news from your country, live
Missing the evening news, the morning shows or the big match back home? With an IPTV subscription the channels from your country come straight to your screen, wherever you live.
See the full worldwide line-up on our Channels & Coverage page, then start a free 24-hour test and check your own channels in minutes.