The Premier League, the most popular football league in England, is set to return for the second season of the new calendar year, with a new mid-week schedule announced.
The new schedule includes two home and away fixtures against Manchester United and Liverpool respectively, which will take place on Wednesday and Saturday nights, respectively. The fixture between Arsenal and West Ham on Saturday night has also been moved to Sunday night.
The changes come after the current schedule was announced by the Football Association (FA) earlier this month, where it was revealed that the league would be split into two divisions, with the top eight teams in each division competing in the FA Cup.
The move comes as a welcome relief for fans who have been waiting for the return of the league to its traditional format. However, there are concerns about the potential impact of the changes on players' training schedules and the financial implications for clubs.
In terms of the fixtures, there are some positives to look forward to. Arsenal and West Ham are scheduled to play each other in the FA Cup final, while Manchester City and Chelsea are both expected to face each other in the Champions League semi-finals.
However, there are also some potential challenges for clubs. Liverpool, who currently sit at the top of the table, are likely to face a strong challenge from Manchester United and Manchester City, while Arsenal may struggle to compete with Chelsea or Manchester City in the upcoming seasons.
Overall, the changes to the league's mid-week schedule should bring some excitement and competition to the sport, but it remains to be seen how they will affect players' training schedules and the financial implications for clubs.