Newcastle United and Liverpool begin new chapters Sunday when they meet during the Premier League’s opening weekend.

The match kicks off August 23 at 11:30 a.m. Eastern from St James’ Park in Newcastle. BBC Radio 5 Live holds the United Kingdom radio rights for the featured Sunday afternoon time slot and is the confirmed home of live commentary.

For listeners in the United States and other countries, the match presents a familiar complication. The BBC provides an international Radio 5 Live stream, but individual sports broadcasts can still be blocked because of territorial rights.

The safest approach is to prepare more than one listening option before kickoff.

Match and Radio Information

  • Match: Newcastle United vs. Liverpool
  • Date: Sunday, August 23, 2026
  • Kickoff: 11:30 a.m. Eastern, 4:30 p.m. British Summer Time
  • Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle
  • Competition: Premier League
  • Confirmed UK radio: BBC Radio 5 Live
  • International alternatives: BBC World Service Sportsworld and international talkSPORT affiliates
  • Replay: Treat the full commentary as live-only

The Premier League awarded the BBC the United Kingdom audio package covering Sunday matches that begin at 4:30 p.m. The agreement runs from the 2025-26 season through 2028-29.

This means BBC Radio 5 Live, rather than the ordinary talkSPORT UK service, is the correct confirmed broadcaster for this match.

Two Clubs Beginning Again

Sunday’s match places two major clubs in transition against each other before either has established a new-season rhythm.

Liverpool begins its Premier League campaign under Andoni Iraola after significant changes to the playing staff. The departures include Mohamed Salah and Andrew Robertson, two players closely associated with the club’s recent success.

Newcastle also begins a new period under Matthias Jaissle. The club enters the season after losing several important players and rebuilding parts of its squad.

That gives the radio commentators an unusually rich opening-weekend story. They will not simply be describing the first match of a new season. They will be explaining how two new managers are attempting to reshape familiar clubs.

Alexander Isak Returns to Newcastle

Another major storyline is the expected return of Alexander Isak to St James’ Park as a Liverpool player.

A returning former player can alter the atmosphere before the opening whistle. Every touch may draw a reaction, and the crowd’s response can become part of the broadcast.

That is where radio can be especially effective. A skilled commentary team can explain the emotional context while allowing listeners to hear the stadium around them.

St James’ Park is known for a vocal crowd positioned close to the field. The natural sound should help listeners understand the intensity even without seeing the match.

How to Listen in the United States

International access cannot be guaranteed because Premier League radio rights vary by country.

Listeners in the United States should try these options in order:

  1. Open the BBC’s international Radio 5 Live stream before kickoff.
  2. If the commentary is blocked, check BBC World Service for Sportsworld coverage.
  3. Check whether a talkSPORT international affiliate or authorized audio partner is carrying the match.

The BBC closed BBC Sounds to international audiences in July 2025, but it subsequently provided direct international links for its United Kingdom radio stations, including Radio 5 Live.

That does not mean every program is available everywhere. Sports rights can cause a station to substitute other programming or block part of its stream outside the United Kingdom.

Review the BBC’s international radio instructions

Why We Do Not Promise a Replay

Listeners should treat this as an appointment broadcast.

Full sports commentaries are often unavailable on demand because the broadcaster owns the right to carry the match live within particular territories, not the right to preserve it indefinitely for worldwide listening.

BBC programs that remain available on demand are normally identified with a play button after broadcast. If no play button appears, the program should be considered live-only.

Commentary clips, interviews and post-match discussions may become available afterward, but those are not substitutes for a complete replay.

Why Soccer Works on Radio

Soccer gives radio commentators little time to pause. Possession changes quickly, players move away from the ball and important developments can occur before the previous action has been fully explained.

A strong commentary team must identify the player in possession, establish the position on the field and describe the movement developing around the ball.

Expert analysis adds another layer by explaining formations, tactical adjustments and substitutions.

This continuous human guidance is particularly valuable for blind and low-vision supporters. It also serves listeners who are driving, working or spending the morning away from a television.

The Strongest Match of Opening Weekend

Other Premier League matches will also receive live radio coverage during the opening weekend:

  • Arsenal vs. Coventry City, Friday at 3:00 p.m. Eastern
  • Hull City vs. Manchester United, Saturday at 7:30 a.m.
  • Brentford vs. Tottenham, Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
  • Manchester City vs. Bournemouth, Sunday at 9:00 a.m.
  • Newcastle United vs. Liverpool, Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

Newcastle against Liverpool is the strongest Web Radio Info selection because it combines recognizable clubs, new managers, major personnel changes, a returning former player and the featured Sunday radio window.

The match begins Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Eastern. BBC Radio 5 Live is the confirmed United Kingdom broadcaster, while international listeners should test their available streams before kickoff.

International listeners should create a free BBC account and open the BBC Sport live-reporting page. When rights permit, the page may include a working BBC Radio 5 Live commentary player. Availability should be tested separately for every match.

Sources

About the Author

Karl Lee is the Editorial Director of Web Radio Info Inc., a Clearwater, Florida-based nonprofit dedicated to helping blind and low-vision listeners discover accessible, human-hosted radio, live sports and screen-free audio.