Everton's first Premier League game against Brighton & Hove Albion will now take place on Sunday 24 August 2025 (kick-off at 2 pm BST).

The game has been moved from Saturday 23 August at 3 pm as it has been selected for live TV coverage on Sky Sports. 

With the new TV deal in place next season, typically 6 or 7 of the 10 games scheduled for each matchweek will be shown on UK TV next season, a substantial increase from previous years, but still not up to the 100% level of TV coverage provide in many other countries around the world for fans who want to watch the Premier League live. 


Reader Comments (14)

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Stephen Meighan
1 Posted 09/07/2025 at 16:01:11
Everton v Brighton first home game live on Sky.

Sunday 2pm, for fuck's sake.

Si Cooper
2 Posted 09/07/2025 at 21:57:41
Are we going to get complaints every time one of our games is selected for live coverage and so isn't played at 3 pm on a Saturday?

The club gets extra money if the game is televised live doesn't it?

Do some not realise that the more money the club brings in the more it can spend on (hopefully) better players and (hopefully) make us more successful in the future?

If we get successful enough we may end up in a European competition and have even less Saturday fixtures.

I recognise Evertonians have been tremendously loyal but some do seem to get a little too upset when things aren't laid out exactly to their preferred schedule.

Mark Murphy
3 Posted 09/07/2025 at 22:09:20
Ffs! Already booked my hotel for the Saturday night!

Bastards!

Danny O'Neill
4 Posted 09/07/2025 at 22:23:29
I think we all understand that Si @2.

But a lot of us have a long way to travel and need to plan ahead, so these changes impact on people who have booked hotels and trains.

And believe me, travelling by train on the Avanti West Coast on a Sunday lately has been nigh on impossible. Strikes, engineering or cancellations due to lack of staff. A normal 2hr 15 minute direct line from Euston to Lime Street and the same the other way, turns into over 4 hours each way, connecting on various networks.

Believe me it's not fun, but it's always worth it and we find a way.

I'm fortunate, I've got my sisters and cousins who put me up.

Derek Thomas
5 Posted 09/07/2025 at 23:50:00
Anybody who makes travel arrangements in advance based on the official 3:00 pm Saturday kick-off is either extremely optimistic or extremely naive.

I've given myself a Friday afternoon - Tuesday morning window.

Anybody got 2 tickets for Villa weekend Friday 12 September? I'll take 1 at a Pinch.

Si Cooper
6 Posted 10/07/2025 at 01:27:39
Fair enough Danny (4), but I don't think it's always those travelling from afar who complain about these things.

We are a good 6 weeks off the 23rd of August, and it's a earlyish kick-off on the Sunday. Will people be unable to switch things around a bit?

Biggest problem I can imagine is if you had an outbound international flight booked early on the Sunday and couldn't get a later one booked now. Everything else seems relatively ‘small potatoes'.

Steve Brown
7 Posted 10/07/2025 at 06:03:45
Si, it is also cost.

You may not get a refund if you have bought an advance train ticket for a fixed date and time.

Some people buy in advance to save money from what is already a very expensive trip if you are travelling from London like Danny.

Danny O'Neill
8 Posted 10/07/2025 at 06:46:42
It's always a tricky one, Si.

Sunday is always the one that makes me groan. That's just because how the trains have been the past year. Night matches don't bother me too much. I either stay in the Adelphi or with family and make an early start the next day on the first train to get back.

As Steve says, if people have booked an advanced ticket, which saves a lot of money, they won't get a refund on that and will have to buy another ticket.

I can't remember which matches, but I've had a few encounters on Sunday's. Not getting too Liverpool, but getting back. One was when there was a partial strike. Trains were running, but the last one back was at about 3:30pm. Then I got an alert stating the strike had been resolved and trains were back on. They were, but only as far as Chester!!. I've also been stranded at Stafford when the last train had to terminate due to line failures. Well, that was me and a bench on the platform getting acquainted.

I've even flown with British Airways from Heathrow to Manchester on a couple of occasions. Like I say there is always a way!!

We all understand that Everton and all clubs are at the mercy of the live broadcasters, but sometimes, I don't think they show any thought or consideration for supporters.

I have started driving up a bit more now that I have the car to myself. I used to have to leave it for the wife. South Parkway is great and has 350 free parking places.

And, forget the likes of me and the West Country Blues. What about the Brighton supporters? As a couple of our south coast regulars will testify, that's one hell of a journey at the best of times.

It is what it is. Those who do have to travel will make it work.

My family keep telling me to move home as I spend most of my time up there watching Everton. There's another side to that debate, which I won't bore you with!!

Phil (Kelsall) Roberts
9 Posted 10/07/2025 at 11:03:01
One extremely happy Blue.

#1 son can't make Brighton game so tickets for Roma. Where are they in the stadium? Do we care? No. We will be there.

#2 son can't make Roma so just told them you can have another £1000 each when I die and leave it to you in our will or we spend it now on Corporate Hospitality so when you give my Eulogy you can say "and one of our greatest memories of my dad was going to see the first competitive game at BMD/HDS".

Life is about memories.

Dave Williams - lost your e-mail and if #2 son had said no - was going to say fancy coming with me. Are you coming to the game and fancy a meet for the first time in, , , 50 years?? To help you recognise me, I will be the one in the Everton shirt

Danny O'Neill
10 Posted 10/07/2025 at 12:31:57
Phil, I hope you and your lad have a great day out.

I will congregate in town and walk. I'm in the Lower South Stand. Before the match, I'm going to visit the Everton Way and see if I can find mine and my son's joint stone. Last time, it was fenced off.

John Raftery
11 Posted 10/07/2025 at 17:30:12
TV now has the game over a barrel. I read that 270 of the 380 PL matches will be televised this season. That makes it more likely than not matches will be moved from Saturday 3:00 pm, especially once the European competitions start with nine Premier League clubs involved. All matches pushed to a Sunday will be broadcast.

It's inconvenient, it makes it hard to plan in advance but the TV money keeps the Premier League afloat. The latest domestic broadcasting deal has not generated additional finance for clubs. In effect, Sky are paying the same amount but getting more games for their money.

In agreeing such a deal, the Premier League has devalued their own currency. I suspect we are only a few years away from all matches being televised.

Danny O'Neill
12 Posted 10/07/2025 at 20:20:24
I'd agree with that one, John.

We'll just have to pick up the pieces with the date and kick-off time changes.

Rob Halligan
13 Posted 10/07/2025 at 20:31:15
I'd like to think that there was always a pretty good chance that this game would be moved from the scheduled Saturday 3 pm kick-off, what with it being the first home game in our new stadium.
Phil (Kelsall) Roberts
14 Posted 10/07/2025 at 20:33:04
John, they may all be televised but none will be free to air.

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