LONDON (AP)

Chelsea and Everton are furious that their Premier League match has been moved to accommodate television schedules.

The two were meant to play on Saturday, April 19, at Goodison Park but the Premier League yesterday moved the match to the previous Thursday. It will be broadcast by Sky Sports.

Chelsea accused the Premier League of giving title rivals Manchester United and Arsenal an advantage. Everton are aiming for fourth place, the final place in next season's Champions League.

"We believe the decision to hold the match on Thursday, April 17, undermines the sporting integrity of the competition by giving our rivals for the Premier League title an unnecessary competitive advantage at a critical time of the season, with more recovery time from their previous match and preparation time for their next fixture when we have to play two games during the same period,'' Chelsea said in a statement.

"The decision sets a dangerous precedent in changing match days still further when fixture congestion does not exist and when a sensible solution regarding other television matches that weekend was suggested.''

Chelsea were also angry at the inconvenience for fans travelling to Liverpool. Everton also wanted the match to be played on the weekend.

"We feel this decision sets an uncomfortable precedent of moving fixtures from a weekend to midweek and, whilst we fully support and back our broadcast partners, we do hope that common sense prevails in the future and sensible alternatives can be reached,'' Everton said in a statement.

Premier League games are rarely scheduled later than Wednesday midweek.

Chelsea host Wigan on April 14 and now goes to Everton three days later.

Manchester United and Arsenal both play April 19, with both matches televised.

The Premier League defended the switch.

"The compilation of the fixture list is a complex procedure that faces enormous pressure from international match and European competition dates, as well as the need to balance the important requirements of the police and our broadcasters,'' the Premier League said in a statement.

''We are also required by the European Commission to televise 138 matches per season, which brings its own inevitable pressures.''