Neither Jurgen Klopp nor Roberto De Zerbi can whine about the festive programme this year, but Mauricio Pochettino and Gary O’Neil might be entitled to feel aggrieved…
The festive programme is nearly upon us, which inevitably leads to moaning from Premier League bosses over the tight schedules.
Last year, it seemed that Liverpool, Manchester United and Leeds had been done dirtiest by the fixture planners and the TV networks. Jurgen Klopp can’t complain this season, though. Certainly not like Mauricio Pochettino and Gary O’Neil.
Not only are Chelsea and Wolves being made to play on Christmas Eve in a fixture nobody but Sky Sports wants, they face the tightest schedule, with their three festive fixtures crammed into six days. Chelsea face the tightest turnaround with 65 hours between their clashes with Palace and Luton.
In contrast, Brighton have 30 minutes short of a full week between facing Palace and Spurs. They then have another five whole days before going to West Ham. The Seagulls’ fixtures are stretched over almost double the time of Chelsea’s and Wolves, while Brentford have no excuse for not being fresh.
They play one game fewer than everyone else owing to Manchester City’s participation in the Club World Cup. Should City get to the final, Pep Guardiola will likely moan about coming back to the Christmas madness, and perhaps he would have a point. Half the Premier League has more time to play their fixtures and no-one else is starting it in Saudi Arabia.
Here’s how the Premier League clubs are ranked for rest around their Christmas fixtures from refreshed Brentford and Brighton, to knackered Chelsea and Wolves…
20) Brentford
POSTPONED: Man City (A)
Wednesday 27 December: Wolves (H) 7:30pm
67.5 hours
Saturday 30 December: Crystal Palace (A) 3pm
19) Brighton: 287.5 hours
Thursday 21 December: Crystal Palace (A) 8pm
167.5 hours
Thursday 28 December: Spurs (H) 7:30pm
120 hours
Tuesday 2 January: West Ham (A) 7:30pm
18) West Ham: 247 hours
Saturday 23 December: Man Utd (H) 12:30pm
127.75 hours
Thursday 28 December: Arsenal (A) 8:15pm
119.25 hours
Tuesday 2 January: Brighton (H) 7:30pm
17) Newcastle: 221 hours
Saturday 23 December: Luton (A) 3pm
69.5 hours
Tuesday 26 December: Newcastle (H) 12:30pm
151.5 hours
Monday 1 January: Liverpool (A) 8pm
16) Liverpool: 218.5 hours
Saturday 23 December: Arsenal (H) 5:30pm
72 hours
Tuesday 26 December: Burnley (A) 5:30pm
146.5 hours
Monday 1 January: Newcastle (H) 8pm
15) Crystal Palace: 209 hours
Thursday 21 December: Brighton (H) 8pm
141.5 hours
Wednesday 27 December: Chelsea (A) 7:30pm
67.5 hours
Saturday 30 December: Brentford (H) 3pm
14) Tottenham: 192 hours
Saturday 23 December: Everton (H) 3pm
124.5 hours
Thursday 28 December: Brighton (A) 7:30pm
67.5 hours
Sunday 31 December: Bournemouth (H) 2pm
=12) Bournemouth: 191 hours
Saturday 23 December: Nottingham Forest (A) 3pm
72 hours
Tuesday 26 December: Fulham (H) 3pm
119 hours
Sunday 31 December: Spurs (A) 2pm
=12) Fulham: 191 hours
Saturday 23 December: Burnley (H) 3pm
72 hours
Tuesday 26 December: Bournemouth (A) 3pm
119 hours
Sunday 31 December: Arsenal (H) 2pm
11) Manchester City: 189 hours
Friday December 22: Possible Club World Cup final (Saudi Arabia) 6pm
122.25 hours
Wednesday 27 December: Everton (A) 8:15pm
66.75 hours
Saturday 30 December: Sheffield Utd (H) 3pm
=9)Aston Villa: 187 hours
Friday 22 December: Sheffield Utd (H) 8pm
96 hours
Tuesday 26 December: Man Utd (A) 8pm
91 hours
Saturday 30 December: Burnley (H) 3pm Burnley
=9) Sheffield United: 187 hours
Friday 22 December: Aston Villa (A) 8pm
91 hours
Tuesday 26 December: Luton (H) 3pm
96 hours
Saturday 30 December: Man City (A) 3pm
8) Arsenal: 178.5 hours
Saturday 23 December: Liverpool (A) 5:30pm
112.75 hours
Thursday 28 December: West Ham (H) 8:15pm
65.75 hours
Sunday 31 December: Fulham (A) 2pm
7) Manchester United: 173 hours
Saturday 23 December: West Ham (A) 12:30pm
79.5 hours
Tuesday 26 December: Aston Villa (H) 8pm
93.5 hours
Saturday 30 December: Nottingham Forest (A) 5:30pm
6) Nottingham Forest: 170.5 hours
Saturday 23 December: Bournemouth (H) 3pm
69.5 hours
Tuesday 26 December: Newcastle (A) 12:30pm
101 hours
Saturday 30 December: Man Utd (H) 5:30pm
5) Burnley: 168 hours
Saturday 23 December: Fulham (A) 3pm
74.5 hours
Tuesday 26 December: Liverpool (H) 5:30pm
93.5 hours
Saturday 30 December: Aston Villa (A) 3pm
4) Everton: 168 hours
Saturday 23 December: Spurs (A) 3pm
101.25 hours
Wednesday 27 December: Man City (H) 8:15pm
66.75 hours
Saturday 30 December: Wolves (A) 3pm
3) Luton: 165.5 hours
Saturday 23 December: Newcastle (H) 3pm
72 hours
Tuesday 26 December: Sheffield Utd (A) 3pm
93.5 hours
Saturday 30 December: Chelsea (H) 12:30pm
2) Wolves: 146 hours
Sunday 24 December: Chelsea (H) 1pm
78.5 hours
Wednesday 27 December: Brentford (A) 7:30pm
67.5 hours
Saturday 30 December: Everton (H) 3pm
1) Chelsea: 143.5 hours
Sunday 24 December: Wolves (A) 1pm
78.5 hours
Wednesday 27 December: Crystal Palace (H) 7:30pm
65 hours
Saturday 30 December: Luton (A) 12:30pm
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