There won’t be a feast of festive soccer within the this , with only one top-flight sport scheduled for the normal slot as a consequence of problems with a congested calendar brought on by the “growth of European membership competitions”.
will host at 8pm this night, with an additional 9 fixtures to be performed throughout Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 December. This contains 5 matches scheduled at 3pm on Saturday 27 December, which won’t be televised within the UK as a result of 3pm TV blackout.
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There can be a full programme of EFL and non-league fixtures on Boxing Day, nevertheless, with an additional spherical of video games within the decrease divisions on Monday 29 December.
Manchester United v Newcastle would be the solely Premier League match to be performed on Boxing Day this 12 months (Getty Pictures)
There have been eight Premier League video games performed on Boxing Day final season, with a full spherical of 10 top-flight fixtures performed on Boxing Day the final time it fell on a Friday in 2014. The Premier League has assured followers that there can be extra fixtures on Boxing Day subsequent 12 months, because it falls on a Saturday in 2026.
There’ll then be six matches on Tuesday 30 December, and an additional 4 on Thursday 1 January – all to be proven on both Sky Sports activities or TNT Sports activities – with no Premier League matches scheduled on New Yr’s Eve.
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The Premier League as a part of its preparations with broadcasting companions and following an settlement with the FA over the exclusivity of sure FA Cup weekends.
The Premier League scheduled this season’s midweek rounds for the beginning of December, January and March, one other in mid-February and the fifth from Tuesday December 30.
With, the FA Cup has been granted unique weekends for the fourth, fifth and quarter-finals rounds, whereas the expanded Champions League league section now concludes throughout two midweeks in late January.
An announcement from the Premier League stated: “The Premier League wish to acknowledge the circumstances which have led to a lowered variety of matches on Boxing Day this season – impacting an essential custom in English soccer.
The Premier League acknowledged the affect on an ‘essential’ English soccer custom (Getty Pictures)
“There are actually 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 in the end left the Premier League as a 33-weekend competitors – fewer than earlier seasons, regardless of being a 380-match competitors since 1995.
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“With fewer weekends to work with, the league is certain by how the calendar falls. The league can provide an assurance that subsequent season there can be extra Premier League matches on Boxing Day – because the date falls on a Saturday.”
The Premier League added: “As with earlier years, and in line with our dedication to golf equipment, particular preparations have been made to permit extra time between video games performed throughout the festive interval. This may permit higher time for gamers to get well with the remaining durations between rounds 18, 19 and 20 being elevated to make sure that no membership performs inside 60 hours of one other match.”
The Soccer Supporters’ Affiliation criticised the choice to schedule Newcastle’s sport at at 8pm on Boxing Day as “inconsiderate”, with away followers dealing with an extended journey dwelling.
“The Premier League’s TV alternatives for Xmas and NY have lastly been introduced a fortnight after they had been alleged to be,” the FSA stated on X. “Newcastle’s sport at Outdated Trafford – the longest journey of that sport week – has been chosen for a ridiculous 8pm kick-off on Boxing Day. Inconsiderate.”
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Premier League festive schedule
Friday 26 December
Manchester United v – 8pm, Sky Sports activities
Saturday 27 December
Nottingham Forest v Manchester Metropolis – 12:30pm, TNT Sports activities
Arsenal v Brighton – 3pm
Brentford v Bournemouth – 3pm
Burnley v Everton – 3pm
Liverpool v Wolves – 3pm
West Ham v Fulham – 3pm
Chelsea v Aston Villa – 5:30pm, Sky Sports activities
Sunday 28 December
Sunderland v Leeds – 2pm, Sky Sports activities
Crystal Palace v Tottenham – 4:30pm, Sky Sports activities
Tuesday 30 December
Burnley v Newcastle United – 7:30pm, Sky Sports activities
Chelsea v Bournemouth – 7:30pm, Sky Sports activities
Nottingham Forest v Everton – 7:30pm, Sky Sports activities
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West Ham v Brighton – 7:30pm, Sky Sports activities
Arsenal v Aston Villa – 8:15pm, Sky Sports activities
Manchester United v Wolves – 8:15pm, Sky Sports activities
Thursday 1 January
Crystal Palace v Fulham – 5:30pm, Sky Sports activities
Liverpool v Leeds – 5:30pm, Sky Sports activities
Brentford v Tottenham – 8pm, Sky Sports activities
Sunderland v Man Metropolis – 8pm, Sky Sports activities
Saturday 3 January
Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest – 12:30pm, Sky Sports activities
Brighton v Burnley – 3pm
Wolves v West Ham – 3pm
Bournemouth v Arsenal – 5:30pm, Sky Sports activities
Sunday 4 January
Leeds v Manchester United – 12:30pm, TNT Sports activities
Everton v Brentford – 3pm, Sky Sports activities
Fulham v Liverpool – 3pm, Sky Sports activities
Newcastle v Crystal Palace – 3pm, Sky Sports activities
Tottenham v Sunderland – 3pm, Sky Sports activities
Manchester Metropolis v Chelsea – 5:30pm, Sky Sports activities