Why are there no Premier League games on Saturday this weekend?

It is an unusual weekend of football action this weekend, with Premier League matches on Friday and Sunday but not on Saturday.

There are two fixtures on Friday night, with the two Europa League finalists in action before the final in Bilbao on Wednesday.

Manchester United go to Chelsea and Tottenham are away at Aston Villa before the Red Devils and Spurs prepare to face each other in Spain next week.

There are then eight more Premier League games from Sunday to Tuesday, starting with Everton hosting Southampton on Sunday at midday and finishing with Crystal Palace vs Wolves and Manchester City vs Bournemouth on Tuesday night.

There is good reason for Crystal Palace and Manchester City not to be playing their next league games until Tuesday, and that is why there is no Premier League football on Saturday.

Why are there no Premier League games on Saturday?

The Eagles and the Citizens are in action on Saturday as they meet in the FA Cup final at Wembley, with kick-off at 4.30pm.

Last year the Premier League and FA agreed that no Premier League games would be played on the day of the FA Cup final.

A statement from the FA last year read: ‘The Emirates FA Cup Final will now take place on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season, on an exclusive Saturday with no Premier League fixtures taking place on the same day.’

Last season there was no Premier League football on the day of the FA Cup final because the Wembley showpiece was played after the end of the league campaign.

Manchester United beat Manchester City 2-1 on May 25, six days after the last Premier League fixtures of the season.

While the penultimate round of Premier League fixtures is a bit all over the place, the final weekend sees the 10 games all played at the same time.

The action on Sunday May 25 will all be played at 4pm as the remaining battles in the Premier League come to an end.

Liverpool have long sewn up the title, while the relegation scrap was over a number of weeks ago, but the fight for European places is still very much alive.

Five Champions League places are on offer this season and competition is fierce between a string of teams to grab them.

There will be a total of six English clubs in the Champions League next campaign as either Manchester United or Spurs will join the top five when they win the Europa League next week.

Sixth place will play in the Europa League next season and seventh will qualify for the Conference League.