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| Premier League Christmas fixtures to feature first Christmas Eve game since 1995 |
In a stunning departure from tradition, the Premier League is set to revive a long-forgotten Christmas Eve tradition, with Wolves and Chelsea locking horns in a highly anticipated match for the first time in 28 years. Originally slated for December 23, this fixture has been rescheduled to take place on Sunday, December 24 at 13:00 GMT.
The last time a Christmas Eve match graced the Premier League was back in 1995 when Leeds United triumphed over Manchester United with a resounding 3-1 scoreline. For this festive season, three rounds of fixtures have been provisionally scheduled for December 23, 26, and 30.
Kicking off the festivities, the Crystal Palace vs. Brighton encounter from the first round has been moved forward to Thursday, December 21, at 20:00. Aston Villa will take on Sheffield United on Friday, December 22, at 20:00 GMT, setting the stage for the weekend.
On Saturday, December 23, fans can enjoy six matches before the much-anticipated clash between Chelsea and Wolves on Christmas Eve.
The second round of festive fixtures commences with five matches on Tuesday, December 26, followed by three more on Wednesday, December 27. The excitement doesn't end there, as Thursday, December 28, sees Brighton hosting the current Premier League leaders, Tottenham, while West Ham embarks on a journey to Arsenal.
As the calendar turns to the last day of the year, Arsenal's trip to Fulham and Tottenham's home match against Bournemouth are scheduled for Sunday, December 31. The action continues into the new year with Liverpool facing Newcastle on Monday, January 1, and West Ham clashing with Brighton on Tuesday, January 2.
The Premier League has taken special measures to provide more recovery time for players during the three festive matchweeks. The rest periods between matchweeks 18, 19, and 20 have been extended to ensure that no club plays within 60 hours of another match.
Notably, Chelsea faces the shortest recovery time with 143.5 hours between their first kick-off and their third. In contrast, Brighton enjoys the most extended recovery time with 287.5 hours, double that of Chelsea.
The decision to schedule a Christmas Eve fixture has sparked controversy, with the Football Supporters' Association dubbing it "an unwanted present which no-one asked for." The Chelsea Supporters' Trust (CST) has gone a step further, deeming the decision "totally unacceptable." The CST has requested an urgent meeting with decision-makers alongside the Wolves 1877 Trust to address this issue and consult with supporters, reminiscent of a similar backlash that forced the Premier League to abandon a Christmas Eve fixture involving Arsenal and Liverpool in 2017.
One match yet to receive a date is Manchester City's home fixture against Brentford, originally set for December 23 but postponed due to the champions' participation in the Fifa Club World Cup.
After a winter World Cup in Qatar last season, Premier League fixtures resumed on December 26, with a televised game every day until January 5, except for December 29. Broadcast rights are shared among Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and Prime Video, with December 29 being the only date without a televised Premier League match during the festive period.
To check out the full Premier League festive fixtures schedule, please refer to the provided table.
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