BT Sport to screen London, Merseyside derbies

The top London derby clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea is just one of the many Barclays Premier League football games to be shown by BT Sport in the first third of the season – the first time anyone other than Sky has had any of the top pick games.

BT executives were reportedly thrilled after securing a series of big-club clashes. BT Sport will also show one of the most famous Premier League rivalries, as Everton play host to Liverpool in the celebrated Merseyside derby.

In addition, BT Sport has chosen two games involving champions Manchester United; most notably, Tottenham Hotspur against Manchester United at White Hart Lane, and the Premier League champions home fixture against newly-promoted Crystal Palace.

BT Sport will also be showing the match between former champions Manchester City, at home to European hopefuls Everton. Arsenal fans will only have to wait until the second week of the season to enjoy a potentially tricky away game at Fulham live on BT Sport.

Simon Green, director of BT Sport, says: “We are thrilled that BT Sport viewers will be able to enjoy these top-of-the-table matches free with BT broadband. This is the first time in Premier League history that top pick matches have been shown anywhere other than on Sky, but Sky TV customers can easily add BT Sport by calling us and if they have BT broadband they can get it for free.

“We have only used five of our top picks, which means that BT Sport will have another 13 throughout the remainder of the season, so our viewers have many more excellent Premier League games to come.

“In the first 13 Premier League rounds until December, we will show the biggest clubs at least twice including Tottenham taking on serious title contenders in both matches, against Manchester United and Chelsea.

“We have Manchester United twice, Manchester City twice, Arsenal twice, Chelsea twice, Everton twice and Liverpool three times.”