Overview
- Manchester United will host Newcastle at Old Trafford at 8pm on Friday, 26 December, the sole top-flight game that day, live on Sky Sports.
- Nine other Premier League fixtures for the round are set across Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 December, with further games on Tuesday 30 December and Thursday 1 January and none on New Year’s Eve.
- The league cites a tightened calendar driven by UEFA’s expanded competitions and FA Cup weekend exclusivity, leaving a 33‑weekend season under TV deals that permit only five midweek rounds.
- Rest windows between rounds 18, 19 and 20 have been lengthened so no club plays within 60 hours, in line with player recovery measures.
- The Football Supporters’ Association has criticised the 8pm kickoff for travel and TV prioritisation, and the league says Boxing Day should feature more matches in 2026 when it falls on a Saturday.