Premier League 2026/27 Matchweek 5 concluded on 20 September 2026, headlined by Manchester City's pulsating 5-3 win over Sunderland. UK domestic coverage was divided across Sky Sports and TNT Sports with Saturday 3pm matches blacked out. Smart Live TV offers 4K international feeds for every match from £12/month.
Matchweek 5 Drama: Eight-Goal Thriller and Key Results
Matchweek 5 of the 2026/27 Premier League season delivered some of the most breathless football of the year so far. Defending champions Arsenal and early pace-setters Manchester City continued their high-scoring momentum, while newly promoted sides continued to test the division's established heavyweights.
The standout fixture of the weekend arrived at the Etihad Stadium, where Manchester City and Sunderland produced a breathtaking eight-goal spectacle that finished 5-3 in favour of the champions. Sunderland showed commendable bravery by attacking City directly, but Pep Guardiola's side had enough firepower in reserve to claim all three points.
Elsewhere on Sunday, AFC Bournemouth hosted Liverpool in an intense tactical battle on the south coast, Leeds United squared off against Crystal Palace at Elland Road, and Fulham faced Manchester United under the Craven Cottage floodlights.
Honest Look: Free Alternatives for UK Football Fans
Before evaluating pay-television subscriptions or IPTV alternatives, it is crucial to recognise the legal, free alternatives available to British football supporters. You do not need to spend any money or purchase any subscription to watch high-quality Premier League highlights.
The BBC broadcasts Match of the Day every Saturday evening and Match of the Day 2 on Sunday evening on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Both programmes provide comprehensive highlights, studio analysis, and manager interviews completely free of charge to UK licence holders. Live radio commentary is also freely available nationwide on BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT. Furthermore, historic showpiece events such as the FA Cup final, the UEFA European Championship, and the FIFA World Cup are legally protected for free-to-air broadcast on BBC and ITV.
What Smart Live TV provides is an affordable, premium bridge for viewers who want to watch live 90-minute broadcasts that are otherwise locked behind expensive satellite paywalls or blacked out entirely on British television.
Confirmed Matchweek 5 Results
Here is how the action unfolded across the fifth round of Premier League fixtures:
| Match | Date | Final Score / Status | UK Broadcaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Bournemouth vs Liverpool | Sun 20 Sep | Bournemouth 1-2 Liverpool | Sky Sports |
| Manchester City vs Sunderland | Sun 20 Sep | Man City 5-3 Sunderland | Sky Sports |
| Leeds United vs Crystal Palace | Sun 20 Sep | Leeds Utd 1-1 Crystal Palace | Blacked Out (None) |
| Fulham vs Manchester United | Sun 20 Sep | Fulham 1-2 Man Utd | Sky Sports |
| Arsenal vs Everton | Sat 19 Sep | Arsenal 3-1 Everton | TNT Sports |
| Newcastle United vs Brentford | Sat 19 Sep | Newcastle 2-0 Brentford | Blacked Out (None) |
| Nottingham Forest vs Hull City | Sat 19 Sep | Forest 2-2 Hull City | Blacked Out (None) |
| Aston Villa vs Coventry City | Sat 19 Sep | Aston Villa 4-0 Coventry | Sky Sports |
| Chelsea vs Ipswich Town | Sat 19 Sep | Chelsea 3-0 Ipswich | Blacked Out (None) |
| Tottenham Hotspur vs Brighton | Sat 19 Sep | Tottenham 2-1 Brighton | Sky Sports |
The Saturday 3pm Blackout Problem
Once again, Matchweek 5 highlighted the central dilemma facing UK football fans: the traditional Saturday 3pm blackout. Under UEFA Statute Article 48, live football transmissions are prohibited between 14:45 and 17:15 on Saturdays across the UK. Originally established during the 1960s to safeguard stadium attendances at lower-league clubs in the EFL and non-league tiers, the regulation prohibits domestic broadcasters from showing Saturday 3pm fixtures.
As a result, matches such as Chelsea vs Ipswich Town, Newcastle United vs Brentford, and Leeds United vs Crystal Palace were completely unavailable to watch live on domestic television. Fans who pay substantial monthly fees for official packages were left with blank television screens during the busiest fixture slot of the week.
In contrast, international networks in North America (Peacock, USA Network, FuboTV), Australia (Optus Sport), and the Middle East (beIN Sports) do not operate under UK broadcast laws. They broadcast every single match live worldwide. Smart Live TV carries these official international streams, enabling UK viewers to access every kick-off in crisp 4K UHD and 60 FPS quality.
Matchweek 6 Fixtures and Schedule Preview
The Premier League calendar moves swiftly into Matchweek 6 next weekend, featuring pivotal clashes at both ends of the table.
| Fixture | Date & Kick-off (BST) | Notable Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion | Sat 26 Sep, 15:00 | International 4K Feed on Smart Live TV |
| Manchester United vs AFC Bournemouth | Sat 26 Sep, 12:30 | TNT Sports 1 / Ultimate |
| Sunderland vs Newcastle United | Sat 26 Sep, 15:00 | Wear-Tyne Derby (International Feed) |
| Liverpool vs Aston Villa | Sat 26 Sep, 17:30 | Sky Sports Premier League |
| Coventry City vs Fulham | Sun 27 Sep, 14:00 | Sky Sports |
| Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal | Sun 27 Sep, 16:30 | North London Derby (Sky Sports Main Event) |
The headline encounter of Matchweek 6 is undoubtedly the North London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal on Sunday, 27 September at 16:30 BST. Arsenal enter the match looking to maintain their title defence, while Tottenham aim to halt their rivals' progress in front of a passionate home crowd.
UK Television Cost Comparison: Official Packages vs Smart Live TV
Following the Premier League across the complete season in the UK has become a major financial undertaking. Domestic broadcast rights are divided across multiple commercial networks, requiring fans to purchase several distinct subscriptions:
| Broadcaster / Platform | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost (10-Month Season) | 3pm Saturday Games Included? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sky Sports Complete | £43.00/mo | £430.00 | No (Blacked Out) |
| TNT Sports (via discovery+) | £30.99/mo | £309.90 | No (Blacked Out) |
| Amazon Prime Video | £8.99/mo | £89.90 | No (Blacked Out) |
| Combined Official Packages | £82.98/mo | £829.80 | 0% of 3pm Fixtures |
| Smart Live TV (Starter Plan) | £12.00/mo | £120.00 | 100% (All 380 Matches) |
| Smart Live TV (Ultimate Plan) | £4.50/mo (billed £54/yr) | £54.00 | 100% (All 380 Matches) |
British fans who rely exclusively on official domestic subscriptions spend almost £83 per month while remaining unable to watch roughly half of all matches played on Saturday afternoons. When additional entertainment services like Netflix (£18/mo) and Disney+ (£5/mo) are included, the average household bill exceeds £105 each month. Smart Live TV unifies sports, entertainment, and on-demand movies into one dependable solution starting from £12 per month.
Streaming Premier League Football with Smart Live TV
Smart Live TV provides a stable, high-performance streaming service engineered specifically for sports enthusiasts:
- Complete access to all 380 Premier League matches without domestic blackout limitations.
- Comprehensive coverage of European football including the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, La Liga, and Serie A.
- Fast, reliable streams in 4K UHD and Full HD at 60 frames per second.
- Responsive Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) with catch-up functionality.
- Multi-device compatibility across Amazon Fire TV, Smart TVs, Android boxes, tablets, and iPhones.
Transparent Subscription Plans
We provide flexible, contract-free pricing plans with no cancellation fees:
- Starter: £12 for 1 month
- Popular: £24 for 3 months (£8.00/month)
- Standard: £36 for 6 months (£6.00/month)
- Ultimate: £54 for 12 months (£4.50/month)
Before choosing a plan, you can test our service completely risk-free with a 24-hour free trial. To preserve server performance and ensure zero buffering for existing subscribers, free trial activations are strictly capped at a maximum of 10 per day.
Getting connected takes less than five minutes. Review our easy step-by-step guide to install IPTV on Firestick using Downloader or IPTV Smarters. If you have questions about legal frameworks and regulations in Great Britain, read our detailed analysis on is IPTV legal in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What was the highest scoring game in Premier League Matchweek 5?
Manchester City's 5-3 victory over Sunderland was the highest scoring match of Matchweek 5, featuring eight goals in a thrilling contest at the Etihad Stadium.
2. How can I watch Tottenham vs Arsenal in Matchweek 6?
The North London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal kicks off on Sunday, 27 September 2026 at 16:30 BST. The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event in the UK, and streamed live worldwide in 4K on Smart Live TV.
3. Why are 3pm Saturday football matches blacked out on UK television?
The FA enforces UEFA Statute Article 48, which bans live football broadcasts between 14:45 and 17:15 on Saturdays. The rule is intended to protect ticket revenues and matchday attendances across lower division clubs in the Football League.
4. Can I watch Premier League highlights for free in the UK?
Yes. BBC Match of the Day airs free of charge every Saturday evening on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with Match of the Day 2 providing Sunday highlights. Major tournaments like the World Cup are also broadcast freely on BBC and ITV.
5. How can I test Smart Live TV before subscribing?
You can request a 24-hour free trial on our website with no credit card required. Due to high demand and strict server capacity controls, trials are limited to 10 per day.