Best and Cheapest Way to Watch Liverpool FC games

September 15, 2023 4:48 AM

I'm a Liverpool FC fan in the U.S. and trying to figure out what's the best and cheapest way to consistently watch their matches. I have a Peacock subscription, but that doesn't always seem to show their matches (although they are often labeled as being available on NBC Sports, which I thought was Peacock). I don't want to pay $70 per month for Fubo or something I won't watch 98% of. I've got a VPN and not averse to watching a U.K. option. But just curious if anyone knows the best route... p.s. just saw that tomorrow's match seems to be Amazon Prime Live Video.. go figure!
posted by dearleader to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (11 answers total)

The broadcast rights to the Premier League are held by NBC in the US. What this means practically, is that some games are on their flagship broadcast network (NBC), their cable network (USA), with the rest on Peacock. Your best bet is having a cable subscription that includes NBC and USA, along with the ad-supported Peacock subscription.

Tomorrow's match against Wolves is on USA.

That said, the other leagues they play in are held by different broadcasters. Europa League is held by CBS/Paramount, so those will likely mostly be on Paramount+ (except the semis and finals which tend to be aired on CBS). The EFL Cup and FA Cup are held by ESPN, so mostly on ESPN+ (except the finals on ESPN on cable).

I have found this website to have the best listing of what matches are on what channel - you can sort by leagues or whatever is on soon.
posted by General Malaise at 5:48 AM on September 15, 2023 [2 favorites]

Oh, and NBC Sports is a streaming app for the NBC and USA matches (and other sports airing on those and other NBC cable networks), but you will need a cable login to use it.
posted by General Malaise at 5:52 AM on September 15, 2023

The short answer is you can’t as there will always be matches that aren’t broadcast in the USA. This person figured out how to get every match and cup game not subject to blackout restrictions:

“Seems like you need Peacock + for starters. $120/yr.

Then for USA option Sling Blue for $40/mo - has DVR.

YoutubeTV is $73/mo has DVR

FuboTV is $75/mo has DVR

Hulu is $70 includes ESPN+ which may be of some use but not essential

Paramount Plus will be needed for Euro cups $4.99/mo later in season”

Or just stick with what you have, get a Kudu on the firestick/Roku of your choice google “Kudu sideload” then “soccer kudu repository.” Annoying at first but you cannot stream every match with current licensing restrictions and you’re in violation of licensing if you use a VPN and a European streaming service. 268/mo is ridiculous to not get everything. Your current set up will get you 90% of the way there.

I have the same problem with college football and baseball where every team has their own regional pay channel. Except when it’s national or the moon is aligned with Venus.
posted by geoff. at 6:50 AM on September 15, 2023 [1 favorite]

I don’t think a VPN plus UK subscription would help you much - UK pay TV subscribers have similar problems, with most games on Sky but a few on Amazon or other places - plus Saturday 3pm kickoffs that aren’t shown at all on UK TV.

But tbf even if you lived in Liverpool and had a season ticket at Anfield it still wouldn’t include cup games or away games. So if the aim is to watch every game live then there isn’t really a good answer - it’s going to be difficult & expensive.
posted by rd45 at 7:12 AM on September 15, 2023 [2 favorites]

It's annoying AF. NBC spreads their games out across NBC Sports app, Peacock, and USA. Pisses me off so much as I would pay to seen any/all EP games or my won team's (COYG!), but I as someone who watches very little TV other than the EP I am not spending on multiple services.

So I use a site that streams most games. YMMV and you may not like the idea of this, but if you do you should always use ad blockers, etc when visiting such sites.
posted by terrapin at 8:02 AM on September 15, 2023 [2 favorites]

Not an answer but I really like the way that sports streaming has turned into a Travelling Salesman type problem. And by like I mean hate.
posted by srboisvert at 10:44 AM on September 15, 2023

It appears that broadcast matches are available as a recording in Peacock a day later. At least that was the case with an Everton match a couple of weeks ago. Not that I should be helping the likes of you!
posted by yerfatma at 11:07 AM on September 15, 2023 [2 favorites]

I'll piggyback on this and ask if anyone knows if it's possible to watch the afternoon matches while in the UK? I'm US based but have found it so interesting how much more difficult it seems to be to watch from within the UK. I've had luck going to a pub near the stadium to ensure they're showing the team I want to watch but I assume those won't be able to show the afternoon matches either. Last time I was in town a bar owner told me they don't televise the afternoon matches because they want to encourage people to go to their local match rather than just watch the Premier League. Do UK fans of Premier League teams just not watch a lot of matches because of this? I don't know why I'm surprised, my local US sports teams are often blacked out in my market even though the games are sold out.
posted by Bunglegirl at 8:25 AM on September 16, 2023

As a fellow LFC supporter I have fallen for the scam and taken Peacock, the cheapest Spectrum plan, ParamountPlus, and ESPN+. But living in Hawaii means 1:30 and 3:00 am kickoffs that are unwatchable with no DVR.
posted by billsaysthis at 5:57 PM on September 17, 2023

I'll piggyback on this and ask if anyone knows if it's possible to watch the afternoon matches while in the UK?

3pm league games are never shown in the UK as far as I know. It's part of the broadcasting deal to encourage fans to show up in person to games. I think you'll have to watch MOTD for the highlights like the rest of us.
posted by plonkee at 7:45 AM on September 18, 2023

Peacock and Fubo are my solution, but I'm using my dad's Fubo, so I only have to pay for Peacock. I did just sign up for Paramount+ (half off if you pay for a year) so I can watch the Europa League games, too. It's not great!
posted by that's candlepin at 2:07 PM on September 18, 2023