Everton Set For Toughest Festive Fixtures, Arsenal Handed The Most Favourable
The Premier League is about to enter the festive period where every team will play three times in a short space of time.
TV broadcasters have chosen which games they want to show, so many fixtures have been moved.
As a result, some teams will benefit more from the festive schedule, while others will have to play their games in a shorter space of time.
Liverpool are the favourites to win the title on football betting sites, but will they come through the next fortnight relatively unscathed?
Gambling.com has analysed all 30 games to be played between Saturday, December 21 and January 1 and ranked them in terms of hours between kick-offs and the winning percentages of their opponents.
Find out why it's good news for Arsenal in their quest to chase down leaders Liverpool and not so good for Everton as they set their sights on climbing the table.
Tough Test For Toffees
Everton enter the festive fixtures 16th in the Premier League, just three points clear of the relegation zone.
A good run between now and New Year's Day could see the Toffees climb away from the bottom three.
However, their schedule for their next three games is ranked the toughest of all 20 teams, based on the winning percentage of their opponents.
Dyche's side have to play the sides currently second (Chelsea), fourth (Nottingham Forest) and fifth (Manchester City).
Those three teams have a combined record of 26 wins from 48 games, which works out to be a winning percentage of 54.2%.
If that wasn't bad enough, the Toffees don't have long to rest and recuperate between games.
They only have 94 and a half hours between the start of Saturday's game at home to Chelsea and their Boxing Day trip to Manchester City, which has been chosen for the 12.30pm lunchtime kick-off.
The Toffees are back in action on Sunday, December 29 when they host Forest in the final game at Goodison Park in 2024.
Ipswich, who won 2-1 at Wolves recently for their second win of the season, have been handed the second toughest set of fixtures over the next two weeks.
Their next three opponents (Newcastle at home, Arsenal away and Chelsea at home) have combined to win 50% of their 48 matches.
Brentford, who host Forest and Arsenal either side of a trip to Brighton, have the third toughest with their opponents combining for a winning percentage of 45.8%.
Chelsea Could Start New Year Top Of The Table
Few expected Chelsea to enter the Christmas fixtures second in the table, but Enzo Maresca has worked wonders since becoming Blues boss in the summer.
The jury was out on whether the former Leicester manager could bring stability to Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea are second favourites on betting apps to win the title.
The fixture computer has been kind to the Blues, who have the most favourable run of games coming up.
No game in the Premier League is easy, but Chelsea fans will be expecting nine points from their forthcoming fixtures against Everton (away), Fulham (home) and Ipswich (away).
Those three teams have combined for 11 wins from a combined 47 games for a winning percentage of 23.4%, which is the lowest for any team.
The 307 miles combined they have to travel to play Everton and Ipswich is the fourth most, but let's not pretend they travel to games in a minibus.
Chelsea's three games are even spread across nine days and Cole Palmer and co have three full days between each fixture, and their third and final game kicks off at 7.45pm on Monday, December 30.
Gunnars Given Favourable Fixtures
Arsenal were Manchester City's biggest rival for the title last season, but City became the first team to be crowned English champions in four successive seasons.
The Gunnars fell two points short of Pep Guardiola's side and they can rue a terrible festive period which did them no favours in the title chase.
One point from their three festive games ultimately cost the Emirates club their first title in 20 years.
With the most favourable run of games coming up, a healthier return of points is expected.
In terms of time between games, Arsenal have the second longest time to rest and recover with 264 hours covering their three matches.
A teatime trip to Crystal Palace gets their festive fixtures under way at 5.30pm on Saturday (December 21), before they host Ipswich at the Emirates at 8.15pm.
With five full days between their first and second game, and four between their second and third contest, there is no excuse for Arsenal to pick up three wins.
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Can City Turn Their Fortunes Around At Christmas?
Defending champions Manchester City need a break, not just in terms of time, but in fortune.
Eight defeats in their last 11 in all competitions is very uncharacteristic for Guardiola, who will hope for nine points over Christmas to get their title defence back on track.
A tricky trip to Aston Villa on Saturday (December 21) is followed with a home game with Everton (Boxing Day) and a trip to Leicester three days later (December 29) is quite favourable.
City's three opponents have a winning percentage of 27.5% with 13 wins from a combined 47 games.
Last season, City only had two festive fixtures due to their participation in the Club World Cup, but they won both - 3-1 at Everton and 2-0 at home to Sheffield United.
Another clean sweep will help them in their quest to chase down Liverpool, who are nine points clear of City, with a game in hand (at Everton).
Liverpool Looking For Capital Gains
Liverpool manager Arne Slot is used to having a winter break in his time as AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord manager, so three festive fixtures will be a challenge for him.
The first 23 games of Slot's time in charge of the Reds since replacing Jurgen Klopp, could hardly have gone any better.
A 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest is the only blemish on Slot's time at Anfield, but how will his side do in their next three games?
Their opponents - Tottenham, Leicester and West Ham - have a winning percentage of 31.25%, so points are there for the Reds to pick up.
However, no team will travel further than Liverpool, whose 453 miles includes trips to Spurs and the Hammers, either side of their home game with Leicester.
Newcastle have the second most miles to travel with trips to Ipswich and Manchester United making up their 436-mile total.
Bournemouth's location in Dorset means the Cherries rack up plenty of air miles on every away trip.
Andoni Iraola's side face journeys to Manchester United and Fulham this Christmas as part of their 353 miles.
As for Fulham, they only have to travel the 1.9 miles between their Craven Cottage home and Stamford Bridge, the location for their one and only away game this Christmas.
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