In contrast to Spain, Germany, France and Italy, there is no let up for teams in England’s top division, with games being played into late December
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As the rest of Europe’s top leagues settle down for a brief period of hibernation this festive season there will be no rest in the Premier League.
La Liga in Spain, Germany’s Bundesliga and Ligue 1 of France all observe a hiatus over Christmas and the new year, while Serie A in Italy incorporates a January break.
The tradition of festive football in England, with games taking place on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, is something that is savoured by the fans, but it has become increasingly controversial.
Coaches such as Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, who are used to winter breaks from their formative years in Germany and Spain respectively, have been vocal critics of the English custom, claiming that it is having a detrimental effect on their players.
Such musings have led Premier League bosses to mandate a 10-day break from the 2019-20 season onwards, but it will occur in February, rather than during the festive period. That means Christmas and New Year football remains, for now at least.
Find out everything you need to know about the 2018-19 Premier League festive football feast below, including the full schedule of matches and which games will be shown live on television.
Friday December 21, 2018
| Game | Venue | Kick-off time (GMT) | TV? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolves vs Liverpool | Molineux | 8pm | Sky Sports |
Saturday December 22, 2018
| Game | Venue | Kick-off time (GMT) | TV? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal vs Burnley | Emirates Stadium | 12:30pm | Sky Sports |
| Bournemouth vs Brighton | Vitality Stadium | 3pm | No |
| Chelsea vs Leicester City | Stamford Bridge | 3pm | No |
| Huddersfield vs Southampton | John Smith’s Stadium | 3pm | No |
| Man City vs Crystal Palace | Etihad Stadium | 3pm | No |
| Newcastle United vs Fulham | St James’ Park | 3pm | No |
| West Ham vs Watford | London Stadium | 3pm | No |
| Cardiff City vs Manchester United | Cardiff City Stadium | 5:30pm | BT Sport |
Sunday December 23, 2018
| Game | Venue | Kick-off time (GMT) | TV? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everton vs Tottenham | Goodison Park | 4pm | Sky Sports |
Wednesday December 26, 2018 (Boxing Day)
| Game | Venue | Kick-off time (GMT) | TV? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fulham vs Wolves | Craven Cottage | 12:30 | Sky Sports |
| Burnley vs Everton | Turf Moor | 3pm | No |
| Crystal Palace vs Cardiff City | Selhurst Park | 3pm | No |
| Leicester City vs Man City | King Power Stadium | 3pm | No |
| Liverpool vs Newcastle United | Anfield | 3pm | No |
| Tottenham vs Bournemouth | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | 3pm | No |
| Brighton vs Arsenal | Amex Stadium | 5:15pm | Sky Sports |
| Watford vs Chelsea | Vicarage Road | 7:30pm | Sky Sports |
Thursday December 27, 2018
| Game | Venue | Kick-off time (GMT) | TV? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton vs West Ham | St Mary’s | 7:45pm | Sky Sports |
Saturday December 29, 2018
| Game | Venue | Kick-off time (GMT) | TV? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton vs Everton | Amex Stadium | 3pm | No |
| Fulham vs Huddersfield | Craven Cottage | 3pm | No |
| Leicester City vs Cardiff City | King Power Stadium | 3pm | No |
| Tottenham vs Wolves | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | 3pm | No |
| Watford vs Newcastle United | Vicarage Road | 3pm | No |
| Liverpool vs Arsenal | Anfield | 5:30pm | BT Sport |
Sunday December 30, 2018
| Game | Venue | Kick-off time (GMT) | TV? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Palace vs Chelsea | Selhurst Park | 12pm | Sky Sports |
| Burnley vs West Ham | Turf Moor | 2:15pm | No |
| Southampton vs Man City | St Mary’s | 2:15pm | Sky Sports |
| Manchester United vs Bournemouth | Old Trafford | 4:30pm | Sky Sports |
Tuesday January 1, 2019 (New Year’s Day)
| Game | Venue | Kick-off time (GMT) | TV? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everton vs Leicester City | Goodison Park | 12:30pm | Sky Sports |
| Arsenal vs Fulham | Emirates Stadium | 3pm | No |
| Cardiff City vs Tottenham | Cardiff City Stadium | 5:30pm | Sky Sports |
Wednesday January 2, 2019
| Game | Venue | Kick-off time (GMT) | TV? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth vs Watford | Vitality Stadium | 7:45pm | No |
| Chelsea vs Southampton | Stamford Bridge | 7:45pm | No |
| Huddersfield vs Burnley | John Smith’s Stadium | 7:45pm | No |
| West Ham vs Brighton | London Stadium | 7:45pm | No |
| Wolves vs Crystal Palace | Molineux | 7:45pm | No |
| Newcastle United vs Manchester United | St James’ Park | 8pm | Sky Sports |
Thursday January 3, 2019
| Game | Venue | Kick-off time (GMT) | TV? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Man City vs Liverpool | Etihad Stadium | 8pm | Sky Sports |
Fans of the Premier League will have no shortage of options in terms of football to watch on TV over the festive period, with a total of 16 games set for live broadcast between December 21 and January 3.
The majority of games will be shown on Sky Sports, but BT Sport will also broadcast a number of matches.
Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United will be given most screen time, with each of them having three televised games, while Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea will appear twice.
| Date | Game | Kick-off time (GMT) | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 21 | Wolves vs Liverpool | 8pm | Sky Sports |
| Dec 22 | Arsenal vs Burnley | 12:30pm | Sky Sports |
| Dec 22 | Cardiff City vs Manchester United | 5:30pm | BT Sport |
| Dec 23 | Everton vs Tottenham | 4pm | Sky Sports |
| Dec 26 | Fulham vs Wolves | 12:30pm | Sky Sports |
| Dec 26 | Brighton vs Arsenal | 5:15pm | Sky Sports |
| Dec 26 | Watford vs Chelsea | 7:30pm | Sky Sports |
| Dec 27 | Southampton vs West Ham | 7:45pm | Sky Sports |
| Dec 29 | Liverpool vs Arsenal | 5:30pm | BT Sport |
| Dec 30 | Crystal Palace vs Chelsea | 12pm | Sky Sports |
| Dec 30 | Southampton vs Man City | 2:15pm | Sky Sports |
| Dec 30 | Manchester United vs Bournemouth | 4:30pm | Sky Sports |
| Jan 1 | Everton vs Leicester City | 12:30pm | Sky Sports |
| Jan 1 | Cardiff City vs Tottenham | 5:30pm | Sky Sports |
| Jan 2 | Newcastle United vs Manchester United | 8pm | Sky Sports |
| Jan 3 | Man City vs Liverpool | 8pm | Sky Sports |
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds will be on TV for their away trip to Wolves on December 21, as well as the visit of Arsenal to Anfield on December 29 and their showdown with Man City on January 3.
Man United’s TV schedule isn’t as blockbuster, with games against Cardiff City and Bournemouth being shown, but the visit to St James’ Park to play Newcastle United is somewhat of a grudge match.
The full extent of the Premier League TV coverage over the Christmas and New Year period can be seen in the table above.