Sky Sports will broadcast 29 matches across the festive season, according to the Premier League’s fixture list. The league put out the schedule more than three months before the event so fans can arrange their travel ahead of the busy holiday stretch, with games running from Boxing Day through to January 7.
The statement comes after discussions with the Football Supporters’ Association and representatives from club Fan Advisory Boards. Each Premier League club has been granted a minimum gap of 60 hours between their Christmas and New Year fixtures.
Boxing Day Double Header
This Boxing Day, seven Premier League matches will be played. Hull City’s match against Liverpool begins at 5.30pm, with Newcastle hosting Manchester City immediately after at 8pm, forming a live Sky Sports double header.
The first day establishes the mood for a busy stretch ahead. The competition has arranged two midweek rounds with festive fixtures, all set to air live on Sky Sports.
Lampard Takes on Chelsea
A triple header on Super Sunday, December 27, features Frank Lampard taking on Chelsea as Coventry boss at 2pm. Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest follows at 4.30pm, then Crystal Palace vs Arsenal at 7pm.
Midweek Round One
From Tuesday December 29 through Wednesday December 30, the season’s opening midweek round takes place. Each match within it will be broadcast live.
On Tuesday, December 29, three matches start simultaneously at 7.30pm: Hull City takes on Leeds, Tottenham faces Brighton, and Everton plays Man City.
On Wednesday December 30, there are seven matches scheduled for play. Coventry takes on Brentford, while Crystal Palace faces Bournemouth. Fulham meets Arsenal, and Manchester United plays Sunderland. Newcastle also plays Nottingham Forest. All five of those matches begin at 7.30pm. The remaining two matches, Aston Villa against Liverpool and Ipswich Town against Chelsea, start at 8.15pm.
Midweek Round Two
From Tuesday January 5 through Thursday January 7, the second midweek round takes place. On Tuesday January 5, the fixtures include Arsenal versus Brentford, Brighton versus Bournemouth, Everton versus Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest versus Hull City, all kicking off at 7.30pm, alongside Sunderland versus Liverpool, which starts at 8.15pm.
On Wednesday, January 6, four matches kick off at the same time: Crystal Palace take on Chelsea, Fulham face Tottenham Hotspur, Ipswich Town play Coventry City, and Leeds United welcome Manchester City to their ground. The first three start at 7.30pm, while the fourth gets underway at 8.15pm. The round concludes the next day, Thursday, January 7, when Manchester United host Newcastle at 8pm.
New Year Weekend
Sky Sports has two Friday Night Football fixtures during the weekend between the two midweek rounds: Leeds versus Everton kicks off on New Year’s Day at 8pm, followed by Bournemouth versus Aston Villa on Saturday January 2, which starts at 5.30pm for Saturday Night Football.
The big games arrive on Sunday, with Chelsea taking on Newcastle at 2pm first, followed by Man City facing Tottenham at 4.30pm.
Full Festive Fixture List
Here is the complete festive schedule as announced:
- Saturday December 26: Hull City vs Liverpool, 5.30pm; Newcastle vs Manchester City, 8pm
- Sunday December 27: Coventry City vs Chelsea, 2pm; Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest, 4.30pm; Crystal Palace vs Arsenal, 7pm
- Tuesday December 29: Hull City vs Leeds, 7.30pm; Tottenham vs Brighton, 7.30pm; Everton vs Man City, 7.30pm
- Wednesday December 30: Coventry vs Brentford, 7.30pm; Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth, 7.30pm; Fulham vs Arsenal, 7.30pm; Manchester United vs Sunderland, 7.30pm; Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest, 7.30pm; Aston Villa vs Liverpool, 8.15pm; Ipswich Town vs Chelsea, 8.15pm
The schedule continues into the new year:
- Friday January 1: Leeds vs Everton, 8pm
- Saturday January 2: Bournemouth vs Aston Villa, 5.30pm
- Sunday January 3: Chelsea vs Newcastle, 2pm; Man City vs Tottenham, 4.30pm
- Tuesday January 5: Arsenal vs Brentford, 7.30pm; Brighton vs Bournemouth, 7.30pm; Everton vs Aston Villa, 7.30pm; Nottingham Forest vs Hull City, 7.30pm; Sunderland vs Liverpool, 8.15pm
- Wednesday January 6: Crystal Palace vs Chelsea, 7.30pm; Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur, 7.30pm; Ipswich vs Coventry City, 7.30pm; Leeds vs Man City, 8.15pm
- Thursday January 7: Manchester United vs Newcastle, 8pm
October and November Selections
Sky Sports has confirmed a string of October and November fixtures beyond the festive period. Among them is Liverpool hosting Manchester City on Sunday October 11, kicking off at 4.30pm, and Leeds facing Man Utd on Sunday October 18, which gets underway at 2pm.
The Chelsea vs Tottenham match is scheduled for Saturday October 24, kicking off at 5.30pm. Liverpool vs Arsenal follows on Sunday November 1, with their game starting at 4.30pm. Broadcast choices for November and the first part of December will be made public before October 19.
Early Notice for Supporters
To assist fans with planning travel through one of the busiest periods of the season, the league made an early announcement of the schedule. Before settling on the timetable, the league took care to consult with supporter groups.
From Boxing Day until January 7, the festive block covers all of it, with every game in the two midweek rounds able to be watched live on Sky Sports.
Source: skysports.com
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