No sooner had the first ePL Invitational tournament concluded were fans already asking the Premier League to put together another one. The absence of real-life Premier League action has left fans bereft of entertainment during lockdown and a period where the Premier League season would usually be building to a thrilling climax.
It’s a cause for celebration, then, that the ePremier League Invitational event is back, just over a week since Diogo Jota’s golden goal defeated Trent Alexander-Arnold and meant Wolves claimed the first-ever ePL title.
This time around, there are new players taking part, with some exciting 1st Round match-ups already confirmed. James Maddison of Leicester City and Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson will do battle to decide who gets a Last 16 place, with another game in the 1st Round between Tottenham’s Ryan Sessegnon and West Ham supporter Spencer Owen going to be a game of top quality.
Maddison has been in entertaining form already this week, taking on Jamie Carragher in the Sky Sports Premier League quiz with hilarious consequences.
"I whipped in a free kick to make it 8-0, done a knee slide and Jonny was dragging me back" @Madders10 took on @Carra23 in the Big PL Quiz this week – and the Leicester man had a handy reminder of one answer
📲 Watch full: https://t.co/6riDlNfrEk pic.twitter.com/VJvBLIsH0y
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 1, 2020
All 20 Premier League clubs will be represented between 5th – 9th May, playing a version of EA Sports’ FIFA 20 on the PlayStation, using the ‘Every player is 85-standard’ set-up.
The format of the first ePL Invitational was very successful, with the 1st Round taking place between eight teams, the four winners from which will join the other 12 Premier League sides in the Last 16 stage.
The action gets under way from 3pm on Tuesday 15th May, with the clash between West Ham United supporter and YouTuber Spencer Owen and Tottenham Hotspur left-back Ryan Sessegnon a mouth-watering clash to look forward to.
Once again, there is a celebrity element to the player representing Manchester United, as the 13-time Premier League champions are led into 1st Round action by English cricket hero Jofra Archer, who will take on Newcastle United’s Rolando Aarons for a Last 16 place.
Burnley and Arsenal clashed in a classic last time out, with Dwight McNeil, a surprise semi-finalist in the event, beating The Gunners most well-known rock and roll fan, You Me at Six frontman and lead vocalist Josh Franceschi. We’re yet to find out which Arsenal player or fan will wear the famous red and white to take on The Clarets’ latest try-hard, time Charlie Taylor.
Wolves will begin their ePL title defence with a new striking talent hoping to emulate Jota’s heroics, with Morgan Gibbs-White taking on Brighton & Hove Albion youngster Aaron Connolly in their Last 16 clash on Wednesday afternoon, while Everton are represented by former heavyweight boxing world champion Tony Bellew on the same day.
Here are all the ePL Invitational matches, with Thursday’s Last 16 fixtures depending on the winners who progress from Tuesday’s 1st Round ties.
Tuesday 5th May
1st Round
3pm GMT – Spencer Owen (West Ham) v Ryan Sessegnon (Tottenham Hotspur)
4pm GMT – Charlie Taylor (Burnley) v Arsenal (Player TBC)
5pm GMT – Rolando Aarons (Newcastle United) v Jofra Archer (Manchester United)
6pm GMT – James Maddison (Leicester City) v Callum Wilson (Bournemouth)
Wednesday 6th May
Last 16
3pm GMT – Jose Enrique (Liverpool) v Keinan Davis (Aston Villa)
4pm GMT – Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolves) v Aaron Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion)
5pm GMT – Tony Bellew (Everton) v Michael Obafemi (Southampton)
6pm GMT – Billy Gilmour (Chelsea) v Andre Gray (Watford)
Thursday 7th May (all timings TBC)
Last 16
Max Aarons (Norwich) v West Ham/Spurs
John Egan (Sheff Utd) v Newcastle/Man. Utd.
Phil Foden (Man City) v Burnley/Arsenal
Crystal Palace v Leicester/Bournemouth
You’ll be able to watch all the action as it goes out on the Sky Sports YouTube channel or on Twitch on the days in question too.
Who’ll take home the ePL Invitational trophy this time round? It’s currently anyone’s guess!
