Sky Sports has a position of dominance, with four of the five available TV packages. <\/p>\n
It can combine its packs and make the system work as it sees fit.<\/p>\n
Selections can be made in one package, but the time and day swapped with another.<\/p>\n
This is how it can work. <\/p>\n
Every team should be picked at least once. Arsenal<\/a> and Tottenham<\/a> are the only clubs who have not played on a Friday or Monday.<\/p>\n However, it does not necessarily mean Sky has not picked them in the slot.<\/p>\n Likewise, Everton<\/a> have seven Friday or Monday games but two of those might be allocated to a different package.<\/p>\n When asked, Sky Sports and the Premier League would not discuss the breakdown of selections on a week-to-week basis.<\/p>\n But, as an illustration, BBC Sport can suggest how it could work from one weekend in January.<\/p>\n Let’s say Sky Sports picked Everton<\/a> v Leeds<\/a> as Saturday 17:30, and Bournemouth<\/a> v Liverpool<\/a> as Monday 20:00.<\/p>\n Liverpool<\/a> could not play on the Monday because of the Champions League, so Sky Sports could swap the games. <\/p>\n Everton<\/a>‘s game is on a Monday, but it was not picked for a Monday. So it may not count as part of the Monday allocation.<\/p>\n Sky Sports says the process involves so many bodies, including clubs and the police, that much of the decision-making is taken out of its hands. <\/p>\n The order of first, second and third-choice picks between Sky and TNT Sports can also have an influence. <\/p>\n It is clear that the five-appearance maximum is a just loose limit.<\/p>\n Supporters will simply see their club has been picked six, seven or eight times.<\/p>\n Manchester United<\/a> will almost certainly be in Europe next season, so will join the band of clubs largely shielded from the Friday-Monday package.<\/p>\n But with at least eight Premier League clubs set to be in Europe, the issue is not going to go away.<\/p>\n