The BBC will show a live game on 26 December for the first time – but how can you follow the matches over the festive period?
BBC TV will broadcast Aston Villa’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace on 26 December.
The television fixture list was delayed because of the ongoing effect of the coronavirus pandemic.
There is no winter break this season because of fixture congestion, with all matches over Christmas and New Year televised by the BBC, Sky Sports, BT Sport or Amazon Prime.
In all, there are 20 Premier League games played between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Champions and leaders Liverpool have about 25 hours more recovery time between games than Leicester City, who are second going into the period.
The full Christmas fixture list and where you can watch
All kick-off times GMT
Saturday, 26 December
Leicester City v Manchester United (12:30 – BT Sport)
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace (15:00 – BBC)
Fulham v Southampton (15:00 – Sky Sports)
Arsenal v Chelsea (17:30 – Sky Sports)
Manchester City v Newcastle United (20:00 – BT Sport)
Sheffield United v Everton (20:00 – BT Sport)
Sunday, 27 December
Leeds United v Burnley (12:00 – Sky Sports)
West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion (14:15 – Sky Sports)
Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion (16:30 – Sky Sports)
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur (19:15 – Sky Sports)
Monday, 28 December
Crystal Palace v Leicester City (15:00 – Amazon Prime)
Chelsea v Aston Villa (17:30 – Amazon Prime)
Everton v Manchester City (20:00 – Amazon Prime)
Tuesday, 29 December
Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal (18:00 – Amazon Prime)
Burnley v Sheffield United (18:00 – Amazon Prime)
Southampton v West Ham United (18:00 – Amazon Prime)
West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United (18:00 – Amazon Prime)
Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers (20:00 – Amazon Prime)
Wednesday, 30 December
Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham (18:00 – Amazon Prime)
Newcastle United v Liverpool (20:00 – Amazon Prime)
Who has the shortest recovery?
According to Premier Injuries, which compiles a database of injuries in the top flight, there have been 133 muscle injuries in total over the first nine matchdays of this Premier League season, a 23% increase compared to the same period last year.
The Premier League had to scrap its winter break for this season because of fixture congestion resulting from the coronavirus pandemic – with the campaign immediately followed by the postponed European Championship.
| Chelsea | 48:00 |
| Everton | 48:00 |
| Crystal Palace | 48:00 |
| Man City | 48:00 |
| Wolves | 48:45 |
| Leicester | 50:30 |
| Aston Villa | 50:30 |
| West Brom | 51:30 |
| West Ham | 51:45 |
| Brighton | 51:45 |
| Burnley | 54:00 |
| Leeds | 54:00 |
| Sheffield United | 70:00 |
| Tottenham | 70:45 |
| Arsenal | 72:30 |
| Southampton | 75:00 |
| Liverpool | 75:30 |
| Man Utd | 79:30 |
| Newcastle | 96:00 |
| Fulham | 99:00 |
| *Time in hours and minutes between kick-offs |
Manchester City, Chelsea, Everton and Crystal Palace have the shortest recovery times to contend with, as all four clubs face two matches in 48 hours. Wolves have an extra 45 minutes.
The fixture schedule has, however, been kind to Fulham and Newcastle United in particular, with both Scott Parker and Steve Bruce’s sides having 99 and 96 hours recovery respectively.
Manchester United, Liverpool, Southampton and Arsenal all also have more than three days between their two games.
