BT and Sky Announce Premier League Schedule
Anticipation for the 2015-16 Premier League season has spiked again after Sky Sports and BT Sport announced their broadcasting schedules for the months of October and November.
Sky Sports maintains its majority in coverage and has allocated 22 matches during that period, including Merseyside, Manchester and Tyne-Wear derbies in the month of October alone:
BT Sport has added six fixtures across the same period, including five early Saturday kick-offs and an early clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea on Sunday, November 29:
With the new fixtures in place, read on for a breakdown of the existing broadcast slate and preview of which of the October/November matchups fans should be watching out for in particular:
| August | |||
| Saturday, Aug. 8. | 12:45 p.m. | Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur | BT Sport |
| Saturday, Aug. 8. | 5:30 p.m. | Chelsea vs. Swansea City | Sky Sports |
| Sunday, Aug. 9. | 1:30 p.m. | Arsenal vs. West Ham United | Sky Sports |
| Sunday, Aug. 9. | 4 p.m. | Stoke City vs. Liverpool | Sky Sports |
| Monday, Aug. 10. | 8 p.m. | West Bromwich Albion vs. Manchester City | Sky Sports |
| Friday, Aug. 14. | 7:45 p.m. | Aston Villa vs. Manchester United | Sky Sports |
| Saturday, Aug. 15. | 12:45 p.m. | Southampton vs. Everton | BT Sport |
| Sunday, Aug. 16. | 1:30 p.m. | Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal | Sky Sports |
| Sunday, Aug. 16. | 4 p.m. | Manchester City vs. Chelsea | Sky Sports |
| Monday, Aug. 17. | 8 p.m. | Liverpool vs. Bournemouth | Sky Sports |
| Saturday, Aug. 22. | 12:45 p.m. | Manchester United vs. Newcastle United | BT Sport |
| Sunday, Aug. 23. | 1:30 p.m. | West Bromwich Albion vs. Chelsea | Sky Sports |
| Sunday, Aug. 23. | 4 p.m. | Everton vs. Manchester City | Sky Sports |
| Monday, Aug. 24. | 8 p.m. | Arsenal vs. Liverpool | Sky Sports |
| Saturday, Aug. 29. | 12:45 p.m. | Newcastle United vs. Arsenal | BT Sport |
| Saturday, Aug. 29. | 5:30 p.m. | Tottenham Hotspur vs. Everton | Sky Sports |
| Sunday, Aug. 30. | 1:30 p.m. | Southampton vs. Norwich City | Sky Sports |
| Sunday, Aug. 30. | 4 p.m. | Swansea City vs. Manchester United | Sky Sports |
| September | |||
| Saturday, Sept. 12. | 12:45 p.m. | Everton vs. Chelsea | BT Sport |
| Saturday, Sept. 12. | 5:30 p.m. | Manchester United vs. Liverpool | Sky Sports |
| Sunday, Sept. 13. | 1:30 p.m. | Sunderland vs. Tottenham Hotspur | Sky Sports |
| Sunday, Sept. 13. | 4 p.m. | Leicester City vs. Aston Villa | Sky Sports |
| Monday, Sept. 14. | 8 p.m. | West Ham United vs. Newcastle United | Sky Sports |
| Saturday, Sept. 19. | 12:45 p.m. | Chelsea vs. Arsenal | BT Sport |
| Saturday, Sept. 19. | 5:30 p.m. | Manchester City vs. West Ham United | Sky Sports |
| Sunday, Sept. 20. | 1:30 p.m. | Tottenham Hotspur vs. Crystal Palace | Sky Sports |
| Sunday, Sept. 20. | 4 p.m. | Southampton vs. Manchester United | Sky Sports |
| Saturday, Sept. 26. | 12:45 p.m. | Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City | BT Sport |
| Saturday, Sept. 26. | 5:30 p.m. | Newcastle United vs. Chelsea | Sky Sports |
| Sunday, Sept. 27. | 4 pm. | Watford vs. Crystal Palace | Sky Sports |
| Monday, Sept. 28. | 8 p.m. | West Bromwich Albion vs. Chelsea | Sky Sports |
| Sunday, Sept. 27. | 4 pm. | Watford vs. Crystal Palace | Sky Sports |
| Monday, Sept. 28. | 8 p.m. | West Bromwich Albion vs. Chelsea | Sky Sports |
BT Sport subscribers can watch matches live on their laptops and mobile devices via the BT Sport app. Sky Sports customers can also enjoy the action away from their television with the Sky Go app.
Everton vs. Liverpool: Sunday, October 4
The first Merseyside derby of the new season sees both of its combatants hoping to distance themselves from disappointing previous campaigns.
Almost two months into the 2015-16 term, both Toffees boss Roberto Martinez and Liverpool chief Brendan Rodgers will hope their new signings are settled in preparation for the clash.
A Merseyside derby is enough to rattle the nerves of even the most seasoned veterans, with Anthony Taylor having dished out five yellow cards when these two met at Goodison Park for a 0-0 stalemate in February.
New Liverpool signing Christian Benteke will be especially motivated to come back and haunt Everton after scoring twice for Aston Villa in a 3-2 victory over the Merseysiders in May.
The Belgium striker will be seeking to outdo compatriot Romelu Lukaku in what will be the highest-profile clash of their respective careers thus far, while the Reds' Divock Origi could also feature.
Manchester United vs. Manchester City: Sunday, October 25
The Red Devils have been one of the busiest clubs in Europe this summer as they've gone about securing a return to their former greatness, and an October collision with rivals Manchester City will serve as a barometer in that chase.
One of those new arrivals, Bastian Schweinsteiger, featured against the Citizens in a 3-2 Champions League group-stage defeat last season, but club captain Wayne Rooney believes the German gives his side a fantastic edge.
The Independent's Mark Ogden quoted Rooney, who will be hoping Schweinsteiger can pull the strings and help orchestrate another hammering of City, similar to their 4-2 derby victory this past April:
"Bastian is obviously a fantastic player. Everyone has known that over the years. But since he has joined up with the squad, he has been a fantastic person, talking with all the players and the young players too, which is a great help to them, having someone of that experience and who is that successful. He is a great addition to the team and I feel it will be a very good signing for us.
"
City proved last season that even when going through a poor stretch of form, they stand among the highest powers in the English top flight, and three points at Old Trafford are always of special value.
United will open up the Premier League race if they can improve again this term, and the October encounter with City will be one of their earlier examinations in whether they're ready to taste silverware once more.
Southampton vs. Bournemouth: Sunday, November 1
November witnesses a landmark occasion in the Premier League, when the first-ever south-coast derby in the top flight between Bournemouth and Southampton will take place following the former's step up to the top tier.
Manager Eddie Howe will lead his Cherries to St. Mary's in an attempt to lay down a statement against rivals Southampton, having not met since they were both in England's third tier in March 2011.
The Saints were 3-1 victors on that occasion as they continued their march toward promotion, and a salivating tactical battle could be on the cards between Howe and his Saints counterpart, Ronald Koeman.
Reinforcing the squad is important for Bournemouth, but the club have also recently extended Callum Wilson's deal at Dean Court. Speaking to the club's official website, he said:
"I signed (from Coventry City) thinking we would get to the Premier League in the next few years and we did it in the first season. There’s no reason, at this moment in time, why anyone would want to leave because we are in the Premier League and have a great manager, who is young and wants to be successful.
"
We have a great squad here, so we have all the key components to be successful in the Premier League and hopefully we can achieve that. Over the off season it’s about spending time with your family and I don’t really listen to stuff like that (the speculation).
[...]
Playing in the Premier League is all I have ever dreamed of. You want to be on Match of the Day and play against the players you idolise. I’m more than happy here.
That dedication to the cause is something Southampton themselves have helped to capture in a rise to the Premier League, and the south coast is sure to remember this historic collision.
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