The “growth of European membership competitions” has led to there being only one sport on 26 December within the English prime flight, says the Premier League.
Boxing Day fixtures have been a long-standing custom in English soccer however this yr the one Premier League sport will probably be Manchester United’s residence match with Newcastle United (20:00 GMT).
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“The Premier League want to acknowledge the circumstances which have led to a lowered variety of matches on Boxing Day this season – impacting an necessary custom in English soccer,” the league stated whereas confirming the schedule for this yr’s festive fixtures.
“There at the moment are a number of challenges to Premier League fixture scheduling rooted within the growth of European membership competitions – which led to a revision of our home calendar forward of final season, together with modifications to the FA Cup.
“This finally left the Premier League as a 33-weekend competitors – fewer than earlier seasons, regardless of being a 380-match competitors since 1995.
“With fewer weekends to work with, the league is sure by how the calendar falls.”
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This yr Boxing Day falls on a Friday – will probably be adopted by seven video games on Saturday, 27 December.
The remaining two video games will then be on Sunday, 28 December – Sunderland v Leeds and Crystal Palace v Tottenham – earlier than matchweek 19 begins with six video games being performed on Tuesday, 30 December.
The Premier League added: “The league can provide an assurance that subsequent season there will probably be extra Premier League matches on Boxing Day – because the date falls on a Saturday.
“As with earlier years, and in step with our dedication to golf equipment, particular preparations have been made to permit extra time between video games performed throughout the festive interval.
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“This can enable better time for gamers to get well with the remainder intervals between rounds 18, 19 and 20 being elevated to make sure that no membership performs inside 60 hours of one other match.”
How have Uefa competitions expanded?
The calendar for Uefa’s membership competitions now stretches throughout 10 midweeks, fairly than the six because it did two seasons in the past, with the Champions League, Europa League and Convention League every given a standalone week for publicity.
The Convention League can also be held on consecutive weeks in December, with the ultimate spherical of video games scheduled within the common slot for the EFL Cup quarter-finals.
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Crystal Palace are within the Convention League and have reached the final eight of the EFL Cup, the place they’ve been drawn away to Arsenal.
A date for the tie is but to be confirmed however it could must be scheduled for 23 December, two days after every group performs within the Premier League.
Arsenal will then play once more within the league on 27 December, with Palace again in motion a day later.
In July, participant representatives and world soccer’s governing physique Fifa agreed there must be a minimal relaxation interval of 72 hours between matches.
Premier League’s festive fixtures
Friday, 26 December
Manchester United v Newcastle United (20:00 GMT)
Saturday, 27 December
Nottingham Forest v Manchester Metropolis (12:30)
Arsenal v Brighton (15:00)
Brentford v Bournemouth (15:00)
Burnley v Everton (15:00)
Liverpool v Wolves (15:00)
West Ham United v Fulham (15:00)
Chelsea v Aston Villa (17:30)
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Sunday, 28 December
Sunderland v Leeds United (14:00)
Crystal Palace v Tottenham (16:30)