Liverpool are set to face Brentford in the Premier League this weekend at an unusual kickoff time — and the reason has now been revealed. Under Jürgen Klopp, the Reds were often chosen for the early Saturday lunchtime slot, a scheduling decision that frequently frustrated the former manager during his nine-year tenure.
However, Klopp might be stunned to see his old side’s next fixture time, as TNT Sports will broadcast Liverpool’s trip to the Gtech Community Stadium in a rare 8pm Saturday kickoff, rather than the traditional 12:30pm start.
Arne Slot’s team will be hoping to turn their fortunes around after a difficult month in which they’ve suffered four consecutive defeats — their worst run since November 2014 under Brendan Rodgers. Their most recent 2-1 loss to Manchester United marked a new low in the Slot era, though the later kickoff gives them some extra recovery time.
Why Liverpool Play Brentford at 8pm on Saturday
The late kickoff has been arranged due to Liverpool’s Champions League commitments. Originally picked for live coverage on TNT Sports in August, the match was rescheduled because the Reds are set to face Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany on Wednesday night.
The game will also feature several familiar faces on both sides. Former Liverpool players Caoimhin Kelleher — remembered for his penalty heroics — and Jordan Henderson, who left for Al-Ettifaq in 2023 after captaining the Reds to major trophies, now play for Brentford.
Liverpool’s clash with Brentford isn’t the only Premier League fixture affected by European competition this weekend. Three more matches have been pushed to Sunday 2pm kickoffs to accommodate teams involved in midweek European action.
Aston Villa’s and Nottingham Forest’s matches against Manchester City and Bournemouth respectively were delayed due to their Europa League commitments, while Crystal Palace will visit Arsenal on Sunday after playing AEK Larnaca in the Conference League.
West Ham Face Leeds United on Friday Night
Elsewhere, West Ham United, currently 19th in the table, will face Leeds United at Elland Road on Friday night. Following a 2-0 home defeat to Brentford, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men will look to bounce back quickly.
Both the Brentford–Liverpool and Leeds–West Ham fixtures were selected for live coverage on Sky Sports, prompting changes from their original Saturday 3pm slots. Sky’s rights include Friday and Monday night games, and since neither West Ham nor Leeds are in European competition, the scheduling gives them slightly more rest than clubs with midweek fixtures.
With both sides struggling for form, Friday’s match presents a key chance for either Nuno Espirito Santo or Daniel Farke to steer their teams back to winning ways — and prove they’re not destined for relegation, contrary to recent supercomputer predictions.
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