The longest Premier League season may only have come to its end just over a month ago, but a new season has now begun.
No thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2019-20 Premier League season ran for a whooping three hundred and fifty-three days. The same pandemic ensured that the cramped season finale dubbed Project Restart was played entirely behind closed doors.
That trend is set to continue. As public gatherings remain outlawed given the circumstances, the new season is set to resume almost exclusively on TV.
But there’s still so much to look forward to! The Cityzens hope to regain the crown they held for two consecutive years and The Reds have promised to “attack the Premier League”. Then there’s the not-so-minor issue of the resurgent Chelsea, Arsenal and Man United all looking to have a go.
Throw in the expected feisty relegation drama, the mid-table mix-ups, and the clubs – Everton, Wolves and Leicester City – who all wish to break the monopoly of those at the top, and you’ve got another expected season of absolute drama on your hands.
Following the confirmation that the 2022-23 season will once again resume behind closed doors, supporters’ groups and the government pressured broadcasters to air more live matches this season.
As a result, supporters in UK will be able to watch all 28 Premier League games in September on Live TV. Matches in the UK will be split between: BT Sport, Sky Sports, and Amazon. Expectedly, Sky boasts the lion’s share of these fixtures.
However, with broadcasters initially agreeing to increase the selection of games on live TV from 200 in 2019-20 to 220 for the new season, there’s still no certainty about how many of these games will be aired live.
While Cable TV remains a standard offering for most networks, there’s been an increase in streaming options in recent years. This means you’d be able to see the games either on your small screen, on Cable TV, or on your smart TV.
However, most domestic on-demand services are tied to your location. So, even if you’re currently able to view live games on your PC or mobile device, that will no longer be possible when you travel out. Annoying, right?
You see, these services use your IP address to determine your physical location, and then lock you out of geo-restricted content based on that criteria. Considering you’ve paid for a subscription; we understand your frustration.
Thankfully, you don’t have to resort to those illegal feeds just yet. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help you get around these blocks, by switching your online location to an acceptable location. It succeeds by inserting itself as an intermediary between your device and the website.
When you connect to a VPN server, your traffic is encrypted and routed through the server. Your IP is also transformed to a local IP address in the region you select. This means you can enjoy any geographically restricted content from anywhere in the world by connecting to the right server.
A VPN also serves to provide you with complete privacy and security while online. By encrypting your traffic and spoofing your IP, it prevents hackers from identifying your footprint and attacking your device. It also keeps out your Internet Service Provider (ISP) which stops possible bandwidth throttling.
For your safety and security, we strongly advice you stay away from illegal streams. However, if you find yourself considering one for any reason, ensure your device remains safe by using a VPN.
There’s no denying it. The closest we could possibly come to the live match experience is seeing it on the big screen. Our little 6-inch mobile screens simply don’t do these matches any justice.
Thankfully, you’re not stuck on the small screen should you choose to use a VPN to spoof your location. So long as your TV can connect to the internet – whether directly or via or streaming box like Apple TV, Kodi, Firestick, etc. – you can use a VPN with it.
Typically, you’d have two options:
Once installed, you can begin enjoying all your live matches with maximum protection on your devices.
CyberGhost is one of the older players in the VPN industry, and this experience can be felt in the service experience. The app remains one of the easiest VPN clients to use, but that’s not all we love about it. And, native apps are available for most major devices and routers.
Boasting over 6,000 servers in 90 countries, CyberGhost is great at unblocking streaming sites in a multitude of locations. This means you can enjoy all of your favorite content from Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, etc. from anywhere in the world..
CyberGhost provides dedicated streaming servers which consistently deliver top speeds for HD and 4K streaming. It also provides top level AES-256 encryption for the privacy-conscious individual.
A kill switch, DNS and IP leak protection, multiple security protocols (including the solid OpenVPN), and a robust ad and malware blocker all form a part of its solid security protection features. Privacy is further assured using a strict no-logs policy that protects your identity, even from the government.
CyberGhost is also highly pocket-friendly on its long-term plans, and assures a generous 45-day money-back guarantee on all first-time purchases.
ExpressVPN boasts some of the fastest VPN servers around, making them an excellent choice for sports. As with CyberGhost, they successfully unblock any sports competition. The servers are trusty and reliable, and the app is available for most devices.
ExpressVPN comes packed with a ton of features for speed, security and customization. This includes split tunneling that allows you decide which traffic goes through the VPN and which doesn’t. It also includes a kill switch, rugged encryption, and a strict no-log policy.
Thanks to a super responsive 24/7 customer service, ExpressVPN users will be able to get any required help on time. So, if you can’t quite determine the best server for unblocking a service, or you’re struggling with installing the VPN on your device, be sure to get in touch with them for assistance.
Surfshark has gained much of its popularity due to its pricing. But it also delivers top level service, with excellent unblocking capacity.
Despite its low prices, Surfshark allows an unlimited number of connections, making it a fantastic choice for families with many devices who wish to watch live Premier League games or other sports both at home and on the go.
Its apps are equipped with a strong OpenVPN protocol and AES-256 encryption for maximum protection. And, a no logs policy keeps your privacy protected whether you’re streaming or torrenting.
We also loved the speeds delivered by Surfshark, as well as its ability to unblock everything from British to European, US, Japanese, and Indian content, among others. Thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee, you can enjoy this service risk-free as you make up your mind.
NordVPN is one of the more popular VPNs out there, no thanks to its formidable security features. The VPN combines the standard military-grade AES-256-bit encryption with a sturdy 2048-bit DH key encryption, for fortified security.
NordVPN offers the industry-standard OpenVPN protocol, known for its speed and security. However, it also provides a variation on the WireGuard protocol, known as NordLynx, which is even faster with no security compromise. And its CyberSec feature protects from ad, trackers and malware.
We also enjoyed the blazing speeds on the NordVPN servers, ensuring a smooth, uninterrupted streaming process. It also successfully unblocked several sports streaming platforms around the world, and is available for most devices.
Based out of the US, Private Internet Acces (PIA) is a secure VPN that successfully unblocks sports streams every time. One of only a few VPNs to be taken to court by the US government, they’ve proven that they keep absolutely no logs.
PIA is highly recommended by many for its security and privacy, which is ensured through a combo of OpenVPN protocol, AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, obfuscation, split tunneling, port forwarding, and a kill switch.
In addition to its security features, PIA is also known for its fast servers. While not as fast as the likes of ExpressVPN, it does more than enough to ensure a buffer-free streaming.
Outside of its Chrome extension, though, Private Internet Access doesn’t match the versatility of the two above it on this list, nor does it match their massive server counts. However, if a Chrome VPN extension is your primary aim, you’d find it genuinely helpful.
The Premier League is arguably second only to the UEFA Champions League and World Cup competitions in the world of football. It is hugely exciting and entertaining. And as the new season begins, there’s sure to be a lot of drama unfolding.
Whichever team you support, and whichever games may catch your fancy, you’d be able to catch them live – even without hitting the stadiums. While you do that, take advantage of the opportunities afforded you by a VPN to both protect your privacy, and unblock restricted content.