For once, the Premier League have handed West Ham an advantage following their customary but immensely irritating switching of TV schedules and games in, and around the festive season this winter. This will be a crucial time for Julen Lopetegui’s team with a series of far more winnable games due to begin with the away game against Leicester City, streamed live on Amazon Prime on Tuesday 3rd December.
‘Winnable’ games follow against Wolves at home, Bournemouth away (live on Sky) and Brighton on 21st December at home. A live TV fixture on Boxing Day follows, away at Southampton. The ‘winnable’ run ends with Liverpool then visiting London Stadium on 29th again live on Sky and a ‘happy new year ‘ trip to the Etihad to play Manchester City on 4th January 2025.
The key changes made by the Premier League, thanks to TV programming means that West Ham have six or five day breaks between several games and only one ‘three-day turnaround’ – before the Liverpool game which arguably is a lost cause anyway. So, whilst most other teams are slogging it out over the festive period, the Irons get some bonus recovery and preparation time. 15 points from December, anybody?
