Liverpool host Arsenal at 4.30pm on Sunday November 1 in the only Premier League fixture of the day. The Gunners need just a point to move to the top of the table, while the Reds can climb one place to fourth with a win at Anfield but will remain in fifth with anything less.
Eight games were played on Saturday, and one more is scheduled for Monday night as Newcastle host Everton, leaving Sunday with a single contest. It is just the second time since May 2024 that a Sunday during the Premier League season has featured only one match.
Why the fixture list is so sparse
There were initially two games scheduled for Sunday November 1, with Aston Villa vs Fulham originally set for 2pm ahead of Liverpool vs Arsenal. However, the Champions League schedule was released after the Premier League made that decision in August.
That European schedule set Barcelona vs Aston Villa for Tuesday November 3, which meant the Villains could not play on Sunday as it would be too close to their trip to Spain. The general rule is that teams should not play two games in 60 hours.
How the change affected Villa
If the Champions League game had been set for Wednesday, no change would have been needed, but Tuesday meant Villa's clash with Fulham had to be switched to Saturday. They played that game at 8pm on Saturday, with Nicolas Jackson opening the scoring for the home team at Villa Park before Zion Suzuki let in a nightmare own goal.
Liverpool and Arsenal are both in Champions League action next week, but both their fixtures are played on Wednesday. The Reds go to Turkey to play Fenerbahce in a 5.45pm kick-off, while Arsenal travel to face Sparta Prague.
Manchester United host Roma on Tuesday night, which is plenty of time after they were beaten at Chelsea on Saturday lunchtime.
