Sheffield United vs Man United: Why is the kickoff at 8pm tonight?

Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport's podcast 'It's All Kicking Off!' to find out why Sheffield United's clash with Manchester United is kicking off at 8pm tonight.

The highly anticipated Premier League clash between Manchester United and Sheffield United is set to kick off at the unusual time of 8pm tonight. Erik ten Hag's Manchester United side will be aiming to secure their second consecutive league victory of the season. Their previous game before the international break saw them snatch a dramatic win against Brentford. However, the Red Devils have been dealt a major blow as Casemiro will be unable to play due to an injury sustained while on international duty with Brazil.

On the other hand, Sheffield United, managed by Paul Heckingbottom, have had a difficult start to the campaign, failing to win a single game so far this season. They enter tonight's match against the Premier League giants following a 3-1 defeat to Fulham.

The reason behind the 8pm kick-off time for this fixture is due to scheduling conflicts. Originally, the match was supposed to take place on Sunday, October 22, but it was moved forward a day because of Manchester United's Champions League commitments. The team is set to host FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford on Tuesday, October 24 at 8pm. According to the new rules, Premier League teams are not allowed to play on a Sunday and then again on the following Tuesday. Despite the change in date, Sky Sports still retains the broadcasting rights for the game.

Over the years, managers have criticized the scheduling of matches, particularly when their teams have European fixtures the following week. This issue played a significant role in rearranging the fixtures for this particular game. Several other Premier League matches this season have also taken place at 8pm on Saturdays. For instance, Manchester City's match against Newcastle occurred a few days after their UEFA Super Cup victory over Sevilla. Similarly, Manchester United's clash with Burnley took place on a Saturday evening following their defeat to Bayern Munich.

Andrew Georgiou, President of Sports at Discovery, shared his thoughts on the decision to have more Saturday 8pm games. He explained that while they are content with the 12:30pm kick-off slot they purchased as part of the package, the league and clubs have agreed that if a team is playing in the Champions League on a Wednesday night, they cannot play in the 12:30pm Saturday kick-off. As a result, alternative time slots need to be found to accommodate both the clubs' and broadcasters' needs.

To watch the match, fans can tune in to Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Additionally, the game can be live-streamed via Sky Go. Mail Sport will also provide live coverage of Sheffield United's clash with Manchester United, allowing fans to stay updated with all the action.

Don't forget to check out Mail Sport's podcast, 'It's All Kicking Off!' for a fresh and unique perspective on Premier League football. The podcast is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify.

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