Sport
What are the Premier League’s best festive football fixtures?
Christmas is coming and that means one thing for sports lovers: wall-to-wall football. The festive football fixtures are about to get up and running and we have picked out a handful of the most unmissable clashes for the next couple of weeks. Build Christmas plans around these crackers, though watch out for times and dates hanging.
The 7 best festive football fixtures 2020
Manchester United vs. Leeds United (December 20th – 4.30pm_
Leeds waited 16 long years to get back in the Premier League, with games against teams like Manchester United among those they missed the most.
The rivalry between these two famous old clubs may have dimmed over the past decade or so but this promises to be a feisty clash at Old Trafford. Given the poor form of the Red Devils, Leeds will also be hoping for an early Christmas gift.
Chelsea vs. West Ham (December 21st – 8pm)
The last Monday Night Football game before Christmas sees West Ham make the short trip to take on London rivals Chelsea.
Both teams have been in excellent form of late with David Moyes having the Hammers dreaming of qualifying for Europe, while the Blues are firmly in the title race, despite their defeat to Wolves on Tuesday night. The last time these sides met, back in July, it was a five-goal thriller settled by a late goal from Andriy Yarmolenko, so hopefully there will be similar thrills at Stamford Bridge for this one.
Arsenal vs. Chelsea (December 26th – 5.30pm)
Chelsea will go straight into another London derby when they go to Arsenal on Boxing Day and this is definitely one of the festive football fixtures to get most excited about.
Pressure is starting to grow on Mikel Arteta, with the Gunners’ FA Cup success last term rapidly fading from fans’ memories as they toil in the bottom half of the Premier League. With six of the past seven games between Arsenal and Chelsea seeing both teams on the scoresheet, this match is guaranteed not to be a turkey.
Everton vs. Manchester City (December 28th – 8pm)
The Toffees have come unstuck in recent weeks so will be looking to get back on track over the busy Christmas period, but hosting City promises to be a tough evening for Everton.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin remains one of the hottest strikers in Europe and will fancy his chances against a stuttering City side who will be looking to build momentum as the fixtures stack up.
Pep Guardiola’s rotation makes it hard to predict which City players will be on the pitch but the return to fitness of Sergio Aguero should give them an extra cutting edge in front of goal.
Burnley vs. Sheffield United (December 29th – 6pm)
This game might not be a classic, but it will be hugely important in terms of the relegation battle. It already looks as though the bottom four teams in the league could get cut adrift from the rest, but it only takes a couple of good results back-to-back to ease away from danger.
Sean Dyche and Chris Wilder have huge respect for each other but this will be a battle. With both sides struggling to find the net, just one goal might be enough to snatch three vital points.
Newcastle United vs. Liverpool (December 30th – 8pm)
At this time of the year it becomes impossible to follow what day it is, but Liverpool’s trip to Newcastle wraps up a Wednesday night double-header in the Premier League.
Newcastle fans might be unimpressed with the stodgy performances delivered by the Magpies this season, but Steve Bruce has them on track to avoid relegation comfortably.
Liverpool have won this fixture in five Premier League games in a row but Newcastle have at least scored in the three most recent meetings between the sides.
Chelsea vs. Manchester City (January 2nd – 3pm)
Frank Lampard’s side have arguably the toughest festival schedule in the league, with a home game against Manchester City another test of their title aspirations. Adding so much attacking talent has pushed Chelsea into contention to win the title, but it is arguably at the back where they have been more impressive of late.
The recruitment of Thiago Silva and Edouard Mendy has fixed two problem positions at centre-back and in goal, but they face a challenge to keep out a very dangerous City side. While Guardiola’s men have yet to hit the heights they have set in recent seasons, they cannot be underestimated and still have a great chance of wrestling back the trophy from Liverpool.
They will also be out for revenge after losing 2-1 to Lampard’s side at Stamford Bridge in June. Our final game of the festive football fixtures to keep an eye on could be pivotal in the title race.
You could earn up to £100 (or currency equivalent) in bonus funds by joining Colossus with our New Player Bonus. Click here to join the action.
