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.
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
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
