There will be no Premier League football this weekend as the top-flight pauses for a scheduled mid-October break.
We are nearly a quarter of the way through the 2024/25 season and the league is now on another hiatus.
It’s nothing for supporters to be worried about though, as the action will be back next weekend.
Here, talkSPORT.com looks into why the Premier League won’t be on.
Why there is no Premier League football this weekend
Well, it’s another international break.
The October international break is one of four scheduled stoppages across each season as countries around the world compete.
In Europe, the Nations League is taking place, so Premier League players from all teams will be helping their countries.
There was an international break in September, while there is another scheduled in November.
That is the final one of the year before the busy festive period starts when it is wall-to-wall Premier League football.
There is also another international break in March, which is the last one of the season.
Premier League Gameweek 8 fixtures
Saturday, October 19
- Tottenham v West Ham, 12:30 – LIVE on talkSPORT
- Fulham v Aston Villa, 15:00 – LIVE on talkSPORT 2
- Ipswich v Everton, 15:00
- Manchester United v Brentford, 15:00
- Newcastle v Brighton, 15:00
- Southampton v Leicester, 15:00
- Bournemouth v Arsenal, 17:30
Sunday, October 20
- Wolves v Man City, 14:00
- Liverpool v Chelsea, 16:30
Monday, October 21
- Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace, 20:00 – LIVE on talkSPORT
4
4
Of course, international breaks are important because they allow time for qualifying for the major tournaments.
But you get the impression that some Premier League managers would rather they weren’t a thing.
It’s a different story for Pep Guardiola though, as despite not being pleased for his players, he loves it from a personal perspective.
Speaking after a win over Fulham, the Manchester City manager said: “International break? I love it! I would have an international break every two weeks!
“For the players, it’s a problem – that’s why we always defend the players. I’m going to rest, and after the international break – my energy is back.
“December, January, February, and March are terrible here, and we need energy back.
“But the players have to go, that’s why they cannot rest – and this is a problem!”
Due to the lack of rest, there have been many times when players from up and down the league have been injured on international duty.
4
Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard was a recent high-profile example of this, while players have also spoken out against the fixture list.
Man City midfielder Rodri, who is now out for the season with an ACL injury, has even suggested that players might strike if the schedule isn’t changed.
So, though the Premier League stops, the football doesn’t for the majority of top-flight players.
And England will be in action twice over the next few days, with both games live on talkSPORT.
The Three Lions face Greece and Finland and you can listen to live coverage of the fixtures with your host Adrian Durham.
Commentary will come from Jim Proudfoot and former England captain Stuart Pearce.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.