The Premier League is back and the festive schedule is underway. Leeds, Liverpool and Man Utd are cramming it in more than most…
The Christmas and New Year fixture list is traditionally packed, and while there is more time for rest than some teams have been given in previous years, some teams were dismayed to learn of their workload, especially in comparison to some of their rivals.
No team will play twice inside 48 hours, as has happened before around Christmas, but Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester United players have returned from the World Cup to three games in seven days – slightly less in Leeds’ case.
Tottenham, though, have over two days more in which to play their three games, which should help Antonio Conte keep his players sharp.
Here are the Premier League teams ranked by the timeframe in which they have to squeeze in their three festive matches…
1) Leeds: 167.75 hours (6 days, 23 hours, 45 minutes)
Wednesday December 28: Man City (H) 8pm, Amazon
67 hours – joint-shortest rest period between games
New Year’s Eve: Saturday December 31: Newcastle (A) 3pm
100.75 hours
Wednesday January 4, 2023: West Ham (H) 7:45pm
=2) Liverpool: 168 hours (7 days)
Boxing Day: Monday December 26: Aston Villa (A) 5:30pm, Amazon
98.5 hours
Friday December 30: Leicester (H) 8pm, Sky Sports
69.5 hours
Monday January 2, 2023: Brentford (A) 5:30pm, Sky Sports
=2) Manchester United: 168 hours (7 days)
Tuesday December 27: Nottingham Forest (H) 8pm, Amazon
88.5 hours
New Year’s Eve: Saturday December 31: Wolves (A) 12:30pm, BT Sport
79.5 hours
Tuesday January 3, 2023: Bournemouth (H) 8pm
4) Bournemouth: 170.5 hours (7 days, 2 hours, 30 minutes)
Tuesday December 27: Chelsea (A) 5:30pm, Amazon
93.5 hours
New Year’s Eve: Saturday December 31: Crystal Palace (H) 3pm
77 hours
Tuesday January 3, 2023: Man Utd (A) 8pm
5) Brentford: 173 hours (7 days, five hours)
Boxing Day: Monday December 26: Tottenham (H) 12:30pm, Amazon
103.25 hours
Friday December 30: West Ham (A) 7:45pm
69.75 hours
Monday January 2, 2023: Liverpool (H) 5:30pm, Sky Sports
6) Nottingham Forest: 191.5 hours (7 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes)
Tuesday December 27: Man Utd (A) 8pm, Amazon
116.5 hours
New Year’s Day: January 1, 2023: Chelsea (H) 4:30pm, Sky Sports
75 hours
Wednesday January 4, 2023: Southampton (A) 7:30pm
=7) Arsenal: 192 hours (8 days)
Boxing Day: Monday December 26: West Ham (H) 8pm, Amazon
117.5 hours
New Year’s Eve: Saturday December 31: Brighton (A) 5:30pm, Sky Sports
74.5 hours
Tuesday January 3, 2023: Newcastle (H) 8pm, Sky Sports
=7) Manchester City: 192 hours (8 days)
Wednesday December 28: Leeds (A) 8pm, Amazon
67 hours – joint-shortest rest period between games
New Year’s Eve: Saturday December 31: Everton (H) 3pm
125 hours
Thursday January 5, 2023: Chelsea (A) 8pm, Sky Sports
=9) Brighton: 196.75 hours (8 days, 4 hours, 45 minutes)
Boxing Day: Monday December 26: Southampton (A) 3pm, Amazon
122.5 hours
New Year’s Eve: Saturday December 31: Arsenal (H) 5:30pm, Sky Sports
74.25 hours
Tuesday January 3, 2023: Everton (A) 7:45pm
=9) Everton: 196.75 hours (8 days, 4 hours, 45 minutes)
Boxing Day: Monday December 26: Wolves (H) 3pm, Amazon
120 hours
New Year’s Eve: Saturday December 31: Man City (A) 3pm
76.75 hours
Tuesday January 3, 2023: Brighton (H) 7:45pm
=9) Leicester: 196.75 hours (8 days, 4 hours, 45 minutes)
Boxing Day: Monday December 26: Newcastle (H) 3pm, Amazon
101 hours
Friday December 30: Liverpool (A) 8pm, Sky Sports
95.75 hours
Tuesday January 3, 2023: Fulham (H) 7:45pm
=9) Fulham: 196.75 hours (8 days, 4 hours, 45 minutes)
Boxing Day: Monday December 26: Crystal Palace (A) 3pm, Amazon
120 hours
New Year’s Eve: Saturday December 31: Southampton (H) 3pm
76.75 hours
Tuesday January 3, 2023: Leicester (A) 7:45pm
13) Newcastle: 197 hours (8 days, 5 hours)
Boxing Day: Monday December 26: Leicester (A) 3pm, Amazon
120 hours
New Year’s Eve: Saturday December 31: Leeds (H) 3pm
77 hours
Tuesday January 3, 2023: Arsenal (A) 8pm, Sky Sports
14) West Ham: 215.75 hours (8 days, 23 hours, 45 minutes)
Boxing Day: Monday December 26: Arsenal (A) 8pm, Amazon
95.75 hours
Friday December 30: Brentford (H) 7:45pm
120 hours
Wednesday January 4, 2023: Leeds (A) 7:45pm
=15) Aston Villa: 218.5 hours (9 days, 2 hours, 30 minutes)
Boxing Day: Monday December 26: Liverpool (A) 5:30pm, Amazon
140.5 hours
New Year’s Day: Sunday January 1, 2023: Tottenham (H) 2pm, Sky Sports
78 hours
Wednesday January 4, 2023: Wolves (A) 8pm
=15) Chelsea: 218.5 hours (9 days, 2 hours, 30 minutes)
Tuesday December 27: Bournemouth (H) 5:30pm, Amazon
119 hours
New Year’s Day: Sunday January 1, 2023: Nottingham Forest (A) 4:30pm, Sky Sports
99.5 hours
Thursday January 5, 2023: Man City (H) 8pm, Sky Sports
=15) Southampton: 218.5 hours (9 days, 2 hours, 30 minutes)
Boxing Day: Monday December 26: Brighton (H) 3pm, Amazon
120 hours
New Year’s Eve: Saturday December 31: Fulham (A) 3pm
98.5 hours
Wednesday January 4, 2023: Nottingham Forest (H) 5:30pm
=18) Crystal Palace: 221 hours (9 days, 5 hours)
Boxing Day: Monday December 26: Fulham (A) 3pm, Amazon
120 hours
New Year’s Eve: Saturday December 31: Bournemouth (H) 3pm
101 hours
Wednesday January 4, 2023: Tottenham (A) 8pm, Sky Sports
=18) Wolves: 221 hours (9 days, 5 hours)
Boxing Day: Monday December 26: Everton (A) 3pm, Amazon
117.5 hours
New Year’s Eve: Saturday December 31: Man Utd (H) 12:30pm, BT Sport
103.5 hours
Wednesday January 4, 2023: Aston Villa (A) 8pm
20) Tottenham: 223.5 hours (9 days, 7 hours, 30 minutes)
Boxing Day: Monday December 26: Brentford (A) 12:30pm, Amazon
145.5 hours – longest rest period between games
New Year’s Day: Sunday January 1, 2023: Aston Villa (H) 2pm, Sky Sports
78 hours
Wednesday January 4, 2023: Crystal Palace (A) 8pm, Sky Sports