Premier League Limits Boxing Day to Single Manchester United Clash

The Premier League has announced that only one match will be played on Boxing Day this season: Manchester United hosting Newcastle United at Old Trafford. This departure from tradition, where all 20 clubs usually play on December 26, is due to the expansion of European club competitions and the resulting scheduling challenges, as well as the fact that Boxing Day falls on a Friday this year. The league has adjusted its domestic calendar to a 33-weekend competition, fewer than in previous seasons, which has impacted the festive fixture schedule. The single Boxing Day game will kickoff at 8pm, with transport concerns raised for traveling Newcastle fans. The remaining Premier League matches from matchweek 18 are spread over the following weekend, with seven games on December 27 and two on December 28. The Premier League assures fans that next season, with Boxing Day on a Saturday, more matches will be scheduled on this traditional football day, and special arrangements have been made to increase player recovery times between fixtures during the festive period.