Why is Fulham vs Man Utd a Sunday 7pm kick-off? Premier League change explained

Manchester United and Fulham are due to face off at Craven Cottage on Sunday, and the game will kick-off at a time not especially familiar to Premier League match-goers.

The two teams will face off on Sunday, with the match kicking off at 7pm. By the time the match gets underway, the other 18 Premier League teams will all have played their weekend fixtures.

United and Fulham were also involved in the final match of the opening game week of the season. On that occasion, the Manchester club left it late to snatch all three points, with Joshua Zirkzee the match-winner on his Premier League debut.

Since then, the clubs' fortunes have reversed. Fulham have spent much of the campaign in the top half, currently occupying 10th spot, but United are down in 13th after a tough season which saw Erik ten Hag sacked in October.

In short, the match has been given its kick-off time because it has been chosen for TV by TNT Sports. The broadcaster's traditional slot of 12.30pm on a Saturday cannot be used, with United having played in the Europa League on Thursday night.

With Sky Sports showing matches at 2pm and 4.30pm on Sunday, TNT have been unable to schedule a clash. A 12pm Sunday kick-off had been floated, but this was deemed too close to the finish of United's Thursday night victory over Rangers.

Had the game not been selected for TV, it would likely have been played on Sunday at 2pm. That is the time slot given to the non-televised match between Tottenham and Leicester, with Spurs having also been in Europa League action during the week.

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United's head coach Ruben Amorim didn't appear too optimistic about the availability of defensive duo Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt on Sunday. Neither man was able to complete the full 90 against Rangers, with Bruno Fernandes bailing the team out with a late winner.

"I don’t know," Amorim told reporters. "Leny has a pain and Mata was a bruise from a touch. Leny was a little bit tired, he is playing more in this moment, so we have to be really careful and we will see. I don’t know."

Fulham are without Kenny Tete and Reiss Nelson for the match, though Nelson is close to a return. However, Sander Berge - who was linked with Manchester United before joining Marco Silva's side - returned from injury for the Cottagers' last league game.

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