This article is more than 11 months old

This article is more than 11 months old

The Liverpool supporters’ group Spirit of Shankly has criticised the rescheduling of the Boxing Day fixture at Leicester, calling it “disdainful” and having “zero-consideration” for fans.

The Premier League match has been moved to 8pm to accommodate screening by Amazon Prime but with no public transport to support people getting to and from the fixture, the switch has come under fire.

Under the new TV deal agreed last year, all nine of the Premier League’s Boxing Day fixtures are to be screened by the internet company as it makes its first foray into top-flight broadcasting.

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There will be four separate kick-off times that day – at 12.30pm, 3pm, 5.30pm and 8pm.

Manchester City’s fixture at Wolves will also be streamed by Amazon and has been rearranged for 27 December at 7.45pm.

Liverpool have offered free coach travel to their supporters, with fans asked to pay a reservation fee of £5 per seat. All proceeds will go to the North Liverpool Foodbank.

Spirit of Shankly said: “There is no national train service running on this day and local public transport is likely to be severely reduced – if operating at all by the time of the game finishing. Both sets of supporters will encounter difficulty getting to and from the stadium.

“A consequence of such a disdainful, zero-consideration change means LFC’s following fixture, at home to Wolves, is also to be moved to Sunday 29 December, again with inconvenience and negative implications for fans and workers.

Quick guide Premier League TV schedule for December 2019 Show Hide (all times GMT) Tuesday 3 December

7.30pm Crystal Palace v Bournemouth (Amazon Prime Sport) 8.15pm Burnley v Man City (Amazon Prime Sport) Wednesday 4 December 7.30pm Chelsea v Aston Villa (Amazon Prime Sport) 7.30pm Leicester v Watford (Amazon Prime Sport) 7.30pm Man Utd v Spurs (Amazon Prime Sport) 7.30pm Southampton v Norwich (Amazon Prime Sport) 7.30pm Wolves v West Ham (Amazon Prime Sport) 8.15pm Liverpool v Everton (Amazon Prime Sport) Thursday 5 December 7.30pm Sheff Utd v Newcastle (Amazon Prime Sport)

8.15pm Arsenal v Brighton (Amazon Prime Sport) Saturday 7 December 12:30pm Everton v Chelsea (BT Sport) 5.30pm Man City v Man Utd (Sky Sports) Sunday 8 December 2pm Aston Villa v Leicester (Sky Sports)

4.30pm Brighton v Wolves (Sky Sports) Monday 9 December 2019 8pm West Ham v Arsenal (Sky Sports) Saturday 14 December 12:30pm Liverpool v Watford (BT Sport) 5.30pm Southampton v West Ham (Sky Sports) Sunday 15 December 2pm Man Utd v Everton (Sky Sports)

4.30pm Arsenal v Man City (Sky Sports) Monday 16 December 8pm Crystal Palace v Brighton (Sky Sports) Saturday 21 December 12.30pm Everton v Arsenal (BT Sport)

5.30pm Man City v Leicester (Sky Sports) Sunday 22 December 2pm Watford v Man Utd (Sky Sports) 4.30pm Spurs v Chelsea (Sky Sports) Thursday 26 December 12.30pm Spurs v Brighton (Amazon Prime Sport) 3pm Bournemouth v Arsenal (Amazon Prime Sport)

3pm Aston Villa v Norwich (Amazon Prime Sport) 3pm Chelsea v Southampton (Amazon Prime Sport)

3pm Crystal Palace v West Ham (Amazon Prime Sport)

3pm Everton v Burnley (Amazon Prime Sport)

3pm Sheff Utd v Watford (Amazon Prime Sport) 5.30pm Man Utd v Newcastle (Amazon Prime Sport) 8pm Leicester v Liverpool (Amazon Prime Sport) Friday 27 December 7.45pm Wolves v Manchester City (Amazon Prime Sport)

“The Premier League and TV companies repeatedly ignore the welfare of supporters. But they do have a chance to redeem themselves.

“Spirit of Shankly call on the authorities to do the right thing and revert all Boxing Day fixtures to a sensible kick-off time. We suggest 3pm.”

Before then Amazon Prime will cover its first live games on 3 December, when Crystal Palace host Bournemouth at 7.30pm and Burnley face Manchester City at 8.15pm.

City have reacted to the Christmas schedule with dismay as they face three games in six days. Following their trip to Wolves, they have 48 hours to prepare for the visit of Sheffield United on 29 December before welcoming Everton on New Year’s Day.

Omar Berrada, chief operating officer of City, told the Manchester Evening News: “We obviously understand that the paying rights-holding broadcasters are an important consideration when it comes to scheduling, but we also need to make sure that we protect the players’ well-being, the sporting integrity of the league, and the quality of the product.”

BT Sport will be showing nine live Premier League fixtures on New Year’s Day, starting with Brighton v Chelsea and Burnley v Aston Villa at 12.30pm, and concluding with Arsenal v Manchester United at 8pm.

The Football Supporters’ Association has said it will continue to raise the issue of short-notice fixture changes at its next meeting with the Premier League.