EPL Commentators on NBC: Dec. 18 and Dec. 19

Going into this weekend, NBC dubbed this the beginning of their “festive fixtures”. The Premier League scheduled a slew of games around Christmas and the New Year holiday.

However, it looks like this weekend will not be as festive as NBC hoped. That all stems around the COVID-19 issues surrounding many EPL clubs currently.

On Thursday, the Premier League postponed five games, in addition to a game on Thursday. Leicester City vs. Tottenham, which was meant to cap off the midweek action, could not go on due to COVID-19 spread in the Leicester camp. The same can be said about the Foxes’ game on Sunday morning at Everton.

As of now, Manchester United and the three recently promoted clubs all had their games postponed. Despite the surge in cases throughout the United Kingdom due to the Omicron variant, the Premier League stated it will roll on with its schedule.

So, where does that leave us for the other five fixtures this weekend?

Well, there will be just two games on Saturday as things stand. Originally, Aston Villa hosting Burnley as well as Leeds against Arsenal joined four games.

On Sunday, the early morning game involved Leicester City, so games do not start until 9 a.m. However, the previously scheduled games should be rolling on as planned.

The most significant of these games is the weekend finale between Tottenham and Liverpool. On one hand, this will be Tottenham’s first game in two weeks. Spurs’ COVID-19 issues means Antonio Conte’s squad is essentially three games behind the majority of the league. Additionally, it is not an easy “welcome back” when the first game after the hiatus is against the second-place team in the league.

EPL Commentator Schedule

Studio coverage of the weekend’s action should remain standard. However, the suspension of the Manchester United against Brighton game, which occupied the early slot on Saturday, could impact Premier League Mornings. Premier League Live and Goal Zone should go on as scheduled before and after each other game, though.

All of the following times are in eastern time. Be sure to check World Soccer Talk for more news as to when the make-up games take place.

Saturday, Dec. 18

POSTPONED — Manchester United vs. Brighton and Hove Albion.

POSTPONED — Southampton vs. Brentford.

POSTPONED — Watford vs. Crystal Palace.

POSTPONED — West Ham vs. Norwich City.

POSTPONED — Aston Villa vs. Burnley.

12:30 p.m. — Leeds United vs. Arsenal. NBC, Peacock Premium, Universo, fubo TV, Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV. — Jim Proudfoot and Jim Beglin.

Sunday, Dec. 19

POSTPONED — Everton vs. Leicester City.

9 a.m. — Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Chelsea. USA Network, Universo fubo TV, Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV. — Jonathan Beck and David Phillips.

9:15 a.m. — Newcastle vs. Manchester City. NBCSN, fubo TV, Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV. — Jim Proudfoot and Rob Green.

11:30 a.m. — Tottenham vs. Liverpool. Peacock Premium. — Peter Drury and Andy Townsend.