Vitezslav Jaros
Liverpool Transfer News
Liverpool’s trip to West Ham comes with an unusual twist. The Premier League has shifted the kick-off time to 2:05 pm, and many fans are asking why.
The answer links back to Crystal Palace’s busy schedule — and it has caused a domino effect across Sunday’s fixtures.
Liverpool return to London this weekend — but the biggest talking point is not just the pressure on Arne Slot. It is the strange 2:05 pm kick-off time.
Fans may wonder why the match starts five minutes late, and the reason is not what you might expect. The schedule has taken a big hit, and the Premier League had to get creative. And no, this is not one of those football “extra-time surprises.”
This delay has nothing to do with broadcasting tricks or referee decisions. It comes down to strict rules, European travel, and one fixture that forced the league to reshuffle everything.
What happened? And how did it pull Liverpool into the loop? Let’s break it down.
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West Ham vs Liverpool: Premier League 2025/26
Why Did Crystal Palace’s Match Change the Schedule?
Crystal Palace were due to play Manchester United at 12:30 pm on Saturday. That was the original plan.
But Palace played Strasbourg in the Conference League on Thursday night. That late kickoff meant the Premier League had to protect the minimum 60-hour rest period.
To fix this, Palace vs Manchester United was moved to 12:00 pm on Sunday.
This created a problem. The Sunday 2:00 pm games — including West Ham vs Liverpool — would end too close to the start of that match. The league reportedly wanted to avoid broadcast overlap and any timing breach.
So, all three 2:00 pm games were pushed to 2:05 pm.
How Did This Affect West Ham vs Liverpool?
Liverpool were not involved in the European shuffle at all. Yet they still had to adjust. Aston Villa vs Wolves and Nottingham Forest vs Brighton were also moved to 2:05 pm. It’s a classic domino effect — one stone falls, and suddenly everyone is playing catch-up.
For fans, the five-minute delay may feel small. But for broadcasters and scheduling rules, it is as important as a goal-line clearance.
What Does This Mean for Arne Slot?
This match arrives at a tense moment. Liverpool have reportedly suffered nine defeats in their last 12 games. Three straight losses by three-goal margins have stunned supporters. That run has also dragged the champions toward the lower half of the table.
By the time they kick off, they could even be 14th.
West Ham, meanwhile, seem more settled under Nuno Espirito Santo. They have not lost in their last three games. For Liverpool, this 2:05 pm start might feel like a small delay — but the pressure is right on time.
Football has puns, but right now Liverpool can’t afford to be “five minutes late” in their season.
Why Does the Premier League Do This?
The league follows strict timing rules:
No team can play two matches too close together.
There must be at least 60 hours between games.
Broadcasting slots cannot overlap.
Palace’s tight schedule with matches on Thursday and again the next Wednesday forced everything to move. Sunday afternoon became the only workable option.
What Anfield Home thinks?
Liverpool simply need a win, no matter the kickoff. The timing is unusual, but the stakes are familiar. Slot must steady the ship, because even five minutes can make a big difference — especially when the pressure is this high.