Liverpool sits atop the Premier League table this Christmas and will aim to consolidate their lead with a Boxing Day clash against struggling Leicester City on Thursday.
Meanwhile, both Manchester clubs face pressure to rejuvenate their seasons, with champions City hosting Everton and United travelling to Wolves. Arsenal, currently third, will test their depth against Ipswich on Friday after losing star player Bukayo Saka to injury.
Tottenham, still smarting from a heavy defeat to Liverpool, face a tough away fixture at high-flying Nottingham Forest, who are pushing for a Champions League spot.
Liverpool are Christmas Day leaders for the first time since 2020/21. Historically, their form at this stage has been a strong predictor of title success, but only once in the past seven occasions has it translated into lifting the trophy.
Under Arne Slot, Liverpool dismantled Tottenham 6-3 in their last outing, showcasing a dominant attack led by Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian forward has made Premier League history as the first player to reach double figures in both goals (15) and assists (11) before Christmas.
Leicester, now under Ruud van Nistelrooy, have shown flashes of improvement but remain defensively frail. Without a win at Anfield since 2000, they’ll need a miracle to overcome Liverpool’s firepower.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal celebrated a convincing 5-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, yet the mood was tempered by a significant blow—Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury, which sidelines him for the foreseeable future.
Saka’s absence forces Arteta to rethink his attacking strategy. With nine goals and 13 assists this season, the England international’s influence has been unmatched. Arteta is optimistic his squad depth, including Gabriel Martinelli, can compensate for Saka’s unique impact.
Also, Nottingham Forest’s resurgence continues under Nuno Espirito Santo, with the team climbing to fourth in the table after winning seven of their last ten games. Forest now eye a return to the Champions League, a competition they last graced over 40 years ago.
Their defensive solidity is notable—only Liverpool and Arsenal boast better records this season. Hosting Tottenham on Thursday, Nuno faces his former club, who are renowned for high-scoring games but have defensive vulnerabilities.
Fixtures
Thursday (GMT):
- Manchester City v Everton
- Bournemouth v Crystal Palace
- Chelsea v Fulham
- Newcastle v Aston Villa
- Nottingham Forest v Tottenham
- Southampton v West Ham
- Wolves v Manchester United
- Liverpool v Leicester
Friday:
- Brighton v Brentford
- Arsenal v Ipswich
