Why there is no Premier League early kick-off today as broadcast rule explained

football returns this weekend with a full-round of fixtures seeing the title race, top four battle and European football chase continue.

After a week of European action, which saw all of England's four teams progress to the semi-final, all 20 teams return to domestic action with many still having plenty to play for.

and Arsenal lose at Ipswich Town on Sunday. The race for Champions League football also continues with Manchester City taking on Everton followed by Aston Villa against Newcastle United.

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However, supporters won't have their usual Premier League schedule at hand this weekend with no television game at 12.30pm. Action normally starts at lunchtime with a game selected to be broadcasted prior to the 3pm blackout.

But that is not the case this time round with the first game being at 3pm. It comes as a result of the third of four scheduled blanks as part of TNT Sports' rights to broadcast Premier League games.

The broadcaster screen 52 games as part of their deal with the league, which are divided by Saturday lunchtime games and two rounds of midweek fixtures. In October, gameweek 9, there was no lunchtime kick-off, as was gameweek 13.

Gameweek 37 will also have no lunchtime game, filling the four scheduled blanks. The 12.30pm slot will be filled next week when Aston Villa take on Fulham and the following weekend when Chelsea travel to Newcastle United.

There are also times when originally scheduled early kick-offs are moved to a later date and time due to European commitments. For example, 5-0 win over Southampton was moved to the Sunday evening after Spurs' Europa League fixture the Thursday before.

This week, there are four 3pm games with Brentford vs Brighton, Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth, Everton vs Manchester City and West Ham vs Southampton followed by Villa vs Newcastle at 5.30pm.

On Sunday, there are three 2pm games with Fulham vs Chelsea, Ipswich Town vs Arsenal and Manchester United vs Wolves. Leicester vs Liverpool is the final game on Easter Sunday before Tottenham host Nottingham Forest on Monday night.