Premier League Christmas Crackers: Full Fixture List

Get ready for a festive feast of football. Here's the full Premier League fixture list for Boxing Day, featuring Liverpool, Manchester City, and more.

Liverpool is poised to extend their lead in the Premier League on Boxing Day, as they host struggling Leicester City at Anfield. The Reds are overwhelming favorites to win, given their impressive form and Leicester's struggles under new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

With a four-point lead at the top of the table, Liverpool will look to capitalize on their momentum and send a statement to their title rivals. Meanwhile, the Manchester clubs, City and United, will aim to bounce back from their recent struggles. City, the faltering champions, will host Everton, while United will travel to face Wolves.

The Premier League's festive fixtures continue to unfold, with several intriguing matchups on the horizon. Second-placed Chelsea will host London rivals Fulham, while Arsenal, despite the absence of injured star Bukayo Saka, will be confident of securing a win against relegation-threatened Ipswich on Friday.

The festive period will also present a challenging test for Tottenham, who are still reeling from their humiliating 6-3 defeat at the hands of Liverpool. Ange Postecoglou's side will face a tough assignment at Nottingham Forest, who have been flying high in the league table. These matchups and more will be crucial in shaping the Premier League landscape as the busy festive period reaches its peak.

Liverpool sits atop the Premier League table on Christmas Day, a position they last held in the 2020/21 season. Historically, being top on December 25th has not guaranteed title success, with only one team in the past seven seasons going on to win the championship.

Following two consecutive draws, Liverpool returned to winning form in impressive fashion, dominating Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The Reds now hold a four-point lead over Chelsea, with a game in hand, making them strong favorites to remain at the top. Their upcoming match against Leicester City at Anfield is expected to be a straightforward victory, particularly given Mohamed Salah's exceptional form.

Salah is having a phenomenal season, becoming the first player in Premier League history to reach double digits in both goals (15) and assists (11) before Christmas. His outstanding performances have been instrumental in Liverpool's success, and he will undoubtedly be a key factor in their pursuit of the title.

Leicester City secured their first win under new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy earlier this month, but their momentum was short-lived. The Foxes have struggled in their subsequent matches, collecting only a single point from their last three outings and conceding a worrying nine goals in the process.

Leicester's poor form is a concern, especially given their daunting trip to Anfield, where they have not tasted victory since 2000. To make matters worse, the Foxes are currently just two points clear of the relegation zone, having returned to the Premier League this season.

Saka Blow Forces Arsenal to Rethink

Arsenal's resounding 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday was overshadowed by a significant injury concern, as Bukayo Saka limped off the pitch with a hamstring injury. The England winger's setback has dealt a substantial blow to manager Mikel Arteta's plans, particularly given Saka's impressive form this season.

Arteta had been buoyed by his team's performance, declaring the Premier League title race “on” after the convincing win. However, Saka's injury has forced the Arsenal boss to reassess his attacking options. With Saka having contributed nine goals and 13 assists in all competitions this season, his absence will be deeply felt. Arteta acknowledged the challenge ahead, saying, “It's going to be a really good exercise for all of us to think about ways to overcome another challenge because we've already had a lot in the season.”

While Mikel Arteta has various attacking options at his disposal, including Gabriel Martinelli, who could potentially fill the void left by Bukayo Saka, the injured winger's unique qualities will be difficult to replicate.

Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, are chasing a European dream, with their fans hoping for a return to the Champions League, a competition they last participated in over 40 years ago. As Nuno Espirito Santo's side prepares to face Tottenham on Thursday, they are riding a wave of momentum, having won seven of their past 10 Premier League games to climb to fourth in the table.

Nottingham Forest's success this season can be attributed to their solid defensive record, with only Liverpool and Arsenal conceding fewer goals in the English top flight. While they may not be prolific scorers, Forest's impressive defensive displays have been a key factor in their climb to fourth in the table.

As Forest prepare to face Tottenham on Thursday, manager Nuno Espirito Santo is bracing himself for an unpredictable encounter against his former club. Tottenham has built a reputation for being great entertainers, and Nuno acknowledges the uncertainty surrounding the matchup. “You never know what's going to happen in the game,” he said. “What we can see is good players, a lot of goals, also conceding goals.”

The Premier League returns with a full slate of matches, kicking off on Thursday with nine fixtures. The early start sees Manchester City hosting Everton at 13:30 CET, followed by the remaining eight matches at 16:00 CET: Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace, Chelsea vs Fulham, Newcastle vs Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham, Southampton vs West Ham, Wolves vs Manchester United (at 18:30 CET), and Liverpool vs Leicester (at 21:00 CET).

The Premier League action continues on Friday with two evening matches: Brighton vs Brentford at 20:30 CET, and Arsenal vs Ipswich at 21:15 CET.