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How to watch the Chelsea vs. Manchester City soccer game today: Premier League football livestream info, more
Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
The 2024-5 Premier League season has begun and the first weekend of Premier League competition is highlighted by today’s Chelsea vs. Manchester City game. Chelsea may have a new manager in Enzo Maresca, but they have their work cut out for them if they want to beat the defending champion Manchester City team.
Keep reading to find out how and when to watch the Chelsea vs. Manchester City game today, even if you don’t have cable.
How and when to watch the Chelsea vs. Manchester City game
The Chelsea vs. Manchester City game will be played Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT) The match will air on NBC, and stream on Peacock and the platforms featured below.
How to watch the Chelsea vs. Manchester City game without cable
While most cable packages include NBC, it’s easy to watch Premier League matches if NBC isn’t included in your cable TV subscription, or if you don’t have cable. Your best options for watching are below. (Streaming options will require an internet provider.)
Watch the Premier League on Peacock
If you want to watch every Premier League game of the 2024-5 season, you’ll need a subscription to Peacock. The NBC/Universal-owned streamer will live stream every Premier League game airing on NBC and USA Network, as well as broadcast select Peacock-exclusive Premier League games this season.
The streaming service has plenty more live sports to offer, including Big Ten football and basketball, golf and WWE wrestling (including formerly PPV-only events such as WrestleMania). There are 80,000 hours worth of recorded content to watch as well, including hit movies and TV series such as “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation.”
A Peacock subscription costs $8 per month. An annual plan is available for $80 per year. You can cancel anytime.
Top features of Peacock:
- Peacock offers live broadcasts of Premier League games airing on NBC and USA Network, on-demand replays when available, plus highlights and post-match coverage.
- There are 175 Peacock-exclusive Premier League games this season.
- Peacock features plenty of current and classic NBC and Bravo TV shows, as well as NFL football airing on NBC, college basketball and more.
Stream the Premier League live on Sling TV for half price
One of the most cost-effective ways to stream live network-aired Premier League matches this year is through a subscription to Sling TV. The streamer also offers access to USA Network, NFL Network, local NBC, Fox and ABC affiliates (where available) and ESPN with its Orange + Blue Tier plan. Also worth noting: Sling TV comes with 50 hours of cloud-based DVR recording space included, perfect for recording all this season’s top NFL matchups.
That plan normally costs $60 per month, but the streamer is currently offering a 50% off promotion for your first month, so you’ll pay just $30. The streamer has a new prepaid offering for football season called Sling TV Season Pass. You can get four months of the Orange + Blue tier, plus the Sports Extra add-on, for $219. That’s a savings of $81 over the usual price.
Note: Because Sling TV doesn’t carry CBS, you won’t be able to watch CBS-aired programming like next year’s NFL games on CBS. To watch these games, plus PGA golf, UEFA Champions League and more live sports, we recommend you add the Paramount+ add-on to your bundle. (Note that CBS Essentials and Paramount+ are both subsidiaries of Paramount Global.)
Top features of Sling TV Orange + Blue tier:
- There are 46 channels to watch in total, including local NBC affiliates (where available).
- Sling TV also offers the live feed of Premier League matches airing live on NBC and the USA Network.
- You also get access to most local NFL games and nationally broadcast games at the lowest price.
- All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage.
Watch the Premier League free with Fubo
You can watch live Premier League matches airing on network TV on Fubo. Fubo is a sports-centric streaming service that offers access to matches airing on NBC, the USA Network, as well as almost every NFL game next season. Packages include CBS, Fox Sunday NFC games via “NFL on Fox”, NBC (“Sunday Night Football”), ESPN (“Monday Night Football”), NFL Network and more, so you’ll be able to watch more than just today’s games, all without a cable subscription.
To watch the Premier League without cable, start a seven-day free trial of Fubo. You can begin watching immediately on your TV, phone, tablet or computer. In addition to the Premier League, you’ll have access to NFL football, FuboTV offers MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS matches. FuboTV Pro Tier is priced at $80 per month after your free seven-day trial.
Top features of Fubo Pro Tier:
- There are no contracts with Fubo — you can cancel at any time.
- You can watch sporting events up to 72 hours after they air live with Fubo’s lookback feature.
- The Pro tier includes over 180 channels.
- Fubo includes all the channels you’ll need to watch college and pro football, including CBS (not available through Sling TV).
- All tiers come with 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR recording.
- Stream on your TV, phone, tablet and other devices.
Watch the Premier League in 2024 on Hulu + Live TV
You can watch the Premier League as well as the NFL, including the NFL Network, MLB and the NBA, with Hulu + Live TV. The bundle features access to 90 channels, including both NBC and the USA Network. Unlimited DVR storage is also included. Watch every match on every network with Hulu + Live TV, plus catch live 2024 NFL preseason games, exclusive live regular season games, popular studio shows (including NFL Total Access and the Emmy-nominated show Good Morning Football) and lots more.
Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+ for $77 monthly.
Waiting for the match to start? Get your Premier League jersey and merch from Fanatics
Fanatics
If you can’t make it to the game in person, gearing up and watching from home is the next best thing. Fanatics offers a terrific selection of comfortable, stylish Premier League jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies and more.
The site offers Premier League caps, sweats and even team-branded AirPods Pro cases so you can take your soccer fandom on the go. Tap the button below to find your favorite Premier League team’s newest merch drop.
What other Premier League games are scheduled for today?
David Rogers/Getty Images
In addition to the Chelsea vs. Manchester City game, the Brentford vs. Crystal Palace game will be played today, before the Chelsea vs. Manchester City match.
On Monday, August 19, 2024, the Leicester City vs. Spurs game will be played at 3 p.m. ET (noon PT) That match will air on USA Network.
Key dates for the 2024-5 Premier League season
The 2024-5 Premier League season begins on Friday, August 16, 2024 and concludes on Sunday, May 25, 2025. The season includes 33 weekends of matches, four midweek rounds and one Bank Holiday match week. There will be no Christmas Eve feature this season, nor will there be an extended mid-season break. Instead, the season will feature a longer summer break for players.
- August 10, 2024: The Community Shield takes place
- August 16, 2024: The season begins, with Manchester United hosting Fulham at Old Trafford
- August 30, 2024: The summer transfer window closes
- December 26, 2024: Boxing Day
- March 16, 2025: The Carabao Cup final takes place
- April 26, 2025: The semi-finals take place
- May 17, 2025: The FA Cup final and Championship Sunday take place, with all 10 games starting simultaneously
- May 21, 2025: The Europa League final takes place in Bilbao
- May 25, 2025: The final match round of the season takes place
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Whether you’re barreling down a mountainside or taking a leisurely ride along your local trail, a great mountain bike is key. But what exactly does a great mountain bike look like, in terms of features? It depends on the kind of terrain and riding style you do.
The best mountain bike for long, cross-country rides will have very different specs than a downhill bike. Some offer full suspension for a smooth ride on bumpy trails. Some have wider tires that are better at gripping wet or sandy terrain. Some are designed for maximum pedaling efficiency and serious stopping power so you can climb steep mountainsides without wearing yourself out. No matter where you and your new bike are headed this fall, we’ve rounded up the best mountain bikes for every rider and every terrain in 2024. Don’t forget to strap on your bike helmet.
Best mountain bike for beginners: Giant Talon 29 1
Mike’s Bikes
The Giant Talon 29 1 is a solid entry-level mountain bike at a reasonable price point. With its balanced frame geometry and high-traction tires, it’s great for a comfortable, stable ride on most trails. While that means it’s not specialized for uphill climbs or cross-country speed, the balanced design is great for beginners or casual riders who aren’t planning to tackle those more challenging technical trails just yet.
With 80mm to 100mm of suspension travel, this hardtail mountain bike strikes that perfect balance of pedaling efficiency and shock absorption.
Riders can also adjust the suspension within that range by adjusting the air spring and the rebound damping. That gives you improved steering precision and a better ride feel since you can tailor it to your needs. If you’re a beginner, it may take some trial and error to fine-tune those settings, but playing around with them is a great way to learn how suspension impacts your ride.
Get this reliable entry-level mountain bike at Mike’s Bikes for $950.
Top features of the Giant Talon 29 1:
- Grippy tires offer great traction in any trail conditions.
- The balanced frame geometry makes this a comfortable bike for most riders.
- The adjustable suspension fork allows you to fine-tune this mountain bike for your needs.
Best trail bike: Santa Cruz Tallboy C R
Backcountry
A full-suspension mountain bike with 120mm and 130mm suspension travel on the rear and front, respectively, it doesn’t get cushier than the Santa Cruz Tallboy C R (at least, not at this price point). Built for cross-country or trail riding, this bike’s design allows you to glide through rocky terrain almost as if you were just cruising on a paved road. That suspension also helps cushion the impact on pops and short drops so you can build up speed while navigating the trail with confidence.
With that said, it can be a little sluggish on uphill climbs. But if you typically stick to more straightforward trails, you won’t have to deal with that issue. For those just-for-fun weekend trail rides, this is the mountain bike you want.
Get this comfortable, agile trail bike at Backcountry while it’s on sale for $3,849 (reduced from $4,799).
Top features of the Santa Cruz Tallboy C R:
- Boasting full suspension, this mountain bike is a comfy ride no matter how bumpy the terrain.
- The carbon C frame is both lightweight and stiff for better control and improved agility.
- The four-piston brakes offer excellent stopping power.
Best fat tire mountain bike: State 6061 Trail+
State Bicycle Co.
For wet or sandy trails, traction is everything, which means you need a fat tire bike like the State 6061 Trail+. With 4.5-inch wide tires that can handle running even at low PSI, this mountain bike can grip the trail no matter how loose or slippery.
Whether you want to cruise along sandy beaches or power through snowy mountain trails, the stability of this fat tire bike is the key to doing so safely and confidently. You won’t be building up much speed, but you’ll have a lot of fun plowing through trails that a standard trail bike couldn’t even touch.
Get this fat tire bike directly from State Bicycle Co. for $1,000.
Top features of the State 6061 Trail+:
- Thick 4.5-inch tires provide extra grip for wet or loose terrain like snow, sand and mud.
- With low PSI capabilities, you can lower the tire pressure to widen the surface area even further to maximize your grip on soft, slippery trails.
- The alloy frame is stiff and strong without adding any more bulk than necessary.
Best mountain bike under $500: Huffy Stone Mountain
Amazon
The Huffy Stone Mountain is a hardtail mountain bike that is lightweight and offers good traction for navigating trails. The budget-friendly bike is missing a lot of the features you’ll find on the more advanced mountain bikes listed above. However, if you’re just starting out and just want to get out on a trail to see if you like mountain biking, this is a good bike to start with.
While you can’t take it on any serious trails, it’s got the basics you need for easy local bike trails. Use it to get a feel for the sport and then upgrade to a mountain bike better suited to the kind of trails you want to tackle. Then, pass this Huffy Stone Mountain on to a friend or teen who’s curious about mountain biking.
A bestseller on Amazon, this budget mountain bike is available for as low as $200.
Top features of the Huffy Stone Mountain:
- This budget entry-level bike is great for casual rides on easy bike trails.
- A wide variety of frame and wheel sizes allows you to get the right fit for your height.
- The lightweight, high-traction design is just enough to let you get a feel for mountain biking before committing to a higher-priced mountain bike with more advanced features and customizability.
Shop more top-rated mountain bikes:
What type of mountain bike should a beginner get?
The best mountain bike for a beginner is a balanced, versatile one. Since you’re probably not tackling steep inclines and declines yet, opt for a trail bike that offers great traction, strong brakes and easy maneuverability along bumpy, muddy trails. That means grippy tires and responsive steering so you can confidently control your bike over tree roots, up hills and on descents.
If the trails you’re eager to go on are largely uphill, look for a bike that’s lightweight with a firmer pedaling platform. Those two features will improve climb efficiency so you’re not wearing yourself out on those uphill stretches.
Do I need a full-suspension mountain bike?
You don’t need a full-suspension mountain bike, but they are nice to have. Unlike hardtail mountain bikes, which only have suspension in the front, full-suspension mountain bikes have suspension in both the front and rear. That extra suspension helps absorb shock, cushioning the impact as you hop over bumps or navigate downhill jumps and drops.
That cushier feel can be nice even on milder trail rides, but they tend to be significantly more expensive and require more maintenance than a hardtail mountain bike. So it might not be worth the extra expense and care if you don’t usually do technical trails or downhill riding.
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