Liverpool begins its 2024-25 Premier League campaign on Saturday, a source of excitement for both the fans around Anfield and the millions of Reds fans around the United States.
For American audiences, Premier League action returns to the NBC family of networks for the 13th consecutive season, with Liverpool's opener against Ipswich Town airing on USA Network at 7:30 a.m. ET.
Arguably NBC's most notable broadcaster will join Liverpool at Portman Road this weekend, as Jon Champion travels from Manchester United's narrow 1-0 escape from Fulham to call Saturday's matinee. The Englishman made his first commentary appearance with BBC Radio Five Live in 1992 and has since covered some of soccer's biggest games, including Champions League finals.
Champion signed to American broadcast giants ESPN in 2009 for their U.K. and Ireland broadcast networks, moving stateside in 2019 to become the lead play-by-play voice for MLS on ESPN. Most recent, he joined NBC Sports last summer for a return to Premier League coverage, also commentating the United States women's national team during the Paris Olympics .
Matt Holland will join Champion in the booth, a seasoned media professional with experience at BT Sports, talkSPORT and the BBC. Making his move to the broadcast booth after a lengthy playing career, Holland made 259 appearances between 1997 and 2003 with Ipswich Town, also playing for Bournemouth, Charlton Athletic, and West Ham.
For the loaded 10 a.m. ET window on Saturday, the commentary lineup is as follows:
- Arsenal vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (USA Network): Bill Leslie and Matt Upson, a 21-time England international.
- Everton vs. Brighton and Hove Albion (Peacock Premium): Rob Palmer and Leon Osman, who spent almost the entirety of his 16-year playing career with the Toffees.
- Newcastle United vs. Southampton (Peacock Premium): Ian Crocker and Michael Bridges, a native Geordie and a longtime former professional.
- Nottingham Forest vs. AFC Bournemouth (Peacock Premium): Jacqui Oatley and Efan Ekoku, a former Bournemouth star, prolific lower-league striker and African Cup of Nations winner.
West Ham and Aston Villa will take center stage on NBC from Olympic Park at 12:30 p.m. ET, also broadcast on Universo. Famously poetic voice Peter Drury will be in the booth for that game, joined by Arsenal legend, prominent commentary figure Lee Dixon and fellow wingback and former Premier League star Graham Le Saux.
Just two Premier League games will be featured on Saturday, with Brentford and Crystal Palace airing on USA Network at 9 a.m. ET. Jim Proudfoot and Jim Beglin will commentate that London derby. At 11:30 a.m., Chelsea and Manchester City will square off in the weekend's lone meeting of Big 6 clubs, as Champion, Dixon and Le Saux once again team up on NBC from Stamford Bridge.
Finally, Monday Night Football heads to the King Power Stadium as Leicester hosts Tottenham Hotspur. The 3 p.m. ET action on USA Network will be called by Martin Tyler and Paul Robinson.
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