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Premier League Festive TV Picks Leave Only One Boxing Day Match

The league cites a calendar compressed by European expansion and FA Cup revisions as the reason.

Overview

  • Manchester United vs Newcastle at Old Trafford is the sole Boxing Day fixture, kicking off at 20:00 GMT live on Sky Sports.
  • The Premier League says a 33-weekend season created by expanded European competitions and FA Cup changes restricted scheduling options.
  • Special arrangements increase rest between rounds 18–20 so no club plays within 60 hours of another match over the period.
  • Sky will televise 31 Premier League games across late December and early January, including full midweek slates and no matches on New Year’s Eve.
  • The Saturday 3pm blackout remains in effect, limiting live coverage of those kick-offs as broadcasters shift multiple fixtures, and the league expects a fuller Boxing Day next year when it falls on a Saturday.