MANCHESTER, England (AP) — This is traditionally one of the most anticipated days on the British football calendar. But there is a distinct lack of games in the Premier League on Boxing Day this year, with only one game scheduled: Manchester United versus Newcastle.
Instead, there will be seven games on Saturday, concluding with two games on Sunday.
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The Premier League said in October that the reduction in the Boxing Day schedule was due to the expansion of European club competitions putting increasing pressure on England’s top flight.
A new Champions League format was introduced last year. This means that the number of participating teams in Europe’s top club football competition will be expanded from 32 to 36 teams, with more league-style competitions continuing into January and the addition of a playoff stage in February.
As well as the second-tier Europa League and third-tier conference leagues, the Premier League said there were “several challenges” with the schedule. The report said the reduction in Boxing Day fixtures affected “an important tradition in English football”.
There were eight games on Boxing Day last year.
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As Boxing Day falls on a Friday and the Premier League ensures time between games to allow players to have adequate rest during the festive period, the games are scheduled to be played from December 26 to 28.
The Premier League said: “Due to reduced working hours at weekends, the league is subject to calendar constraints.”
It also guarantees more games will be played on Boxing Day 2026, which falls on a Saturday.
Premier League festive schedule
Friday, December 26
Manchester United vs Newcastle United
Saturday, December 27
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City
Arsenal vs Brighton
Brentford vs Bournemouth
Burnley vs Everton
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Liverpool vs Wolves
West Ham United vs Fulham
Chelsea vs Aston Villa
Sunday, December 28
Sunderland vs Leeds United
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur
Tuesday, December 30
Burnley vs Newcastle
Chelsea vs Bournemouth
Nottingham Forest vs Everton
West Ham United vs Brighton
Arsenal vs Aston Villa
Manchester United vs Wolves
Thursday, January 1
Crystal Palace vs Fulham
Liverpool vs Leeds United
Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur
Sunderland vs Manchester City
Saturday, January 3
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
Brighton vs Burnley
Wolves vs West Ham United
Bournemouth vs Arsenal
Sunday, January 4
Leeds United vs Manchester United
Everton vs Brentford
Fulham vs Liverpool
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Newcastle vs Crystal Palace
Tottenham Hotspur vs Sunderland
Manchester City vs Chelsea
Tuesday, January 6
West Ham United vs Nottingham Forest
Wednesday, January 7
Bournemouth vs Tottenham Hotspur
Brentford vs Sunderland
Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa
Everton vs Wolves
Fulham vs Chelsea
Manchester City vs Brighton
Burnley vs Manchester United
Newcastle United vs Leeds United
Thursday, January 8
Arsenal vs Liverpool
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James Robson at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer