Yesterday the Premier League fixtures were announced and Manchester City took offence.
Not only do they have to play twice between the 27th and 29th December, but they’re back on for New Year’s Day.
Liverpool play Boxing Day (although it is an 8pm kick-off away to Leicester), then on the 29th and January 2, giving us an extra two days’ rest over the festive period.
We do however have to travel to Doha on December 18 for the Club World Cup – so it’s not like we’ve got an easy run!
Manchester City C.O.O Omar Berrada complained after the announcement, according to the Telegraph, questioning the ‘sporting integrity’ of the decisions made.
Here are the Christmas games, in full:
Saturday December 21
12.30pm Everton v Arsenal (BT Sport)
5.30pm Man City v Leicester (Sky Sports)
Sunday December 22
2pm Watford v Man Utd (Sky Sports)
4.30pm Tottenham v Chelsea (Sky Sports)
Thursday December 26
12.30pm Tottenham v Brighton (APS)
3pm Bournemouth v Arsenal (APS)
3pm Aston Villa v Norwich (APS)
3pm Chelsea v Southampton (APS)
3pm Crystal Palace v West Ham (APS)
3pm Everton v Burnley (APS)
3pm Sheff Utd v Watford (APS)
5.30 Man Utd v Newcastle (APS)
8pm Leicester v Liverpool (APS)
Friday December 27
7.45pm Wolves v Man City (APS)
Saturday December 28
12.30pm Brighton v Bournemouth (Sky Sports)
5.30pm Norwich v Tottenham (Sky Sports)
5.30pm West Ham v Leicester (Sky Sports)
7.45pm Burnley v Man Utd (BT Sport) *After Leicester v Liverpool moved to 20:00 on 26 Dec
Sunday December 29
2pm Arsenal v Chelsea (Sky Sports)
4.30pm Liverpool v Wolves (Sky Sports)
6pm Man City v Sheff Utd
Wednesday January 1
12.30pm Brighton v Chelsea (BT Sport)
12.30pm Burnley v Aston Villa (BT Sport)
3pm Newcastle v Leicester (BT Sport)
3pm Southampton v Tottenham (BT Sport)
3pm Watford v Wolves (BT Sport)
5.30pm Man City v Everton (BT Sport)
5.30pm Norwich v Crystal Palace (BT Sport)
5.30pm West Ham v Bournemouth (BT Sport)
8pm Arsenal v Man Utd (BT Sport)
Thursday January 2
8pm Liverpool v Sheff Utd (BT Sport)
City can complain all the like, but it’s happened to Liverpool in the past and we had to deal with it.
When we were in a strong position for the title in December 2016, we collapsed in January following a brutal period of matches – which Jurgen Klopp won’t have forgotten.
And right now, without any fixture moans (in fact, they’ve had an easier run than Liverpool), City are eight points behind in the title race.
It won’t be the scheduling that wins the Premier League – it’ll be the best side. Let’s hope it’s us!